The Chamaeleon I Dark Molecular Cloud Metal Tree Decoration

The central region of the Chamaeleon I dark molecular cloud, 630 light years away. Captured by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope. The cold, wispy cloud material (blue, centre) is illuminated in the infrared by the glow of the young, outflowing protostar Ced 110 IRS 4 (orange, upper left). The light from numerous background stars, seen as orange dots behind the cloud, can be used to detect ices in the cloud, which absorb the starlight passing through them.