 This is a web near-infrared image of NGC 346, a dynamic star-forming region that lies within the small Magellanic cloud, an orbiting dwarf galaxy 200,000 light-years away and 250 light-years across. The region contains numerous molecular clouds packed with dust and hydrogen, the ingredients for forming new stars and planets. Large numbers of young stars are forming in these regions. The many pillars of glowing gas throughout the area are being created by the light from these young stars. The plumes and arcs of gas in this image contain two types of hydrogen, hot in pink and cold in orange. The cold molecular hydrogen areas are dense and dusty. By observing protostars still in the process of forming, researchers can learn if the star formation process in the SMC is different from what we observe in our own Milky Way. Previous infrared studies have focused on protostars heavier than around 5 to 8 times the mass of our Sun. But web can probe down to lighter-weight protostars as small as one-tenth the mass of our Sun.