See Bizarre Martian Dunes and More of the Best Space Images of the Week

This image, captured by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) , showcases a region near the protostar IRAS 23385. It’s a single exposure at a 15-micron wavelength, represented in orange. This study, under the James Webb Observations of Young ProtoStars (JOYS+) program, leveraged Webb’s unique capabilities to spot early-stage protostars, like IRAS 23385, which contain the essential components for creating habitable planets. MIRI’s exceptional power allowed for the identification of organic molecules in interstellar ices, including acetaldehyde, ethanol, methyl formate, and possibly acetic acid, providing insights into the chemical complexity of these nascent stellar environments.