Webb Resolves 16.5 Million Stars in the Cigar Galaxy, Unveiling a Brief, Intense Starburst

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has resolved 16.5 million stars in Messier 82 (the Cigar Galaxy) in a deep infrared image, revealing a starburst forming stars about ten times faster than the Milky Way. The count represents Webb’s resolution limit in this image, not the galaxy’s total stellar population, as many stars are too faint or buried in dust. The burst is expected to last only a few hundred million years and is thought to be triggered by a past galactic encounter, with outflows and dust structures visible. The study showcases how Webb and Hubble data together can help reconstruct M82’s history and the mechanics of extreme star formation in nearby galaxies.