James Webb space The telescope has revealed dazzling new details of a previously known slice of The universe 32 million light-years away, in a new image released by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The telescope’s infrared technology, launched in December 2021, has allowed the so-called Phantom Galaxy to be seen more clearly than astronomers have ever seen before.
“Webb’s sharp vision revealed delicate filaments of gas and dust in the giant spiral arms that wind outward from the center of this image,” NASA and the ESA said Monday.
“The lack of gas in the nuclear area also provides an unobserved view of the nucleus star the agency said in a statement.
The vortex body, officially known as M74, is located in the constellation Pisces 32 million light-years from Earth.
The Webb image shows the galaxy’s brilliant white, red, pink and light blue appendages, and stars revolves around a bright blue center, all set against the dark background of deep space.
M74 has previously been imaged by the Hubble telescope, which has captured the galaxy’s spiraling pink and blue arms, but its luminous center is subdued yellow instead.
The Phantom Galaxy is “a favorite target for astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals,” NASA and ESA said. The image taken by Webb will help them “learn more about the earliest stages of star formation in the local Universe,” and capture more information about 19 star-forming galaxies close to our Milky Way.
Astronomers will also use the image to “precisely identify star-forming regions in galaxies, accurately measure the masses and ages of star clusters, and gain insights into nature of small dust particles drifting in interstellar space”.
Webb’s new photos have shaken the space community because telescope orbits the Sun at a distance of one million miles (1.6 million km) from Earth, in a region of space known as the second Lagrange point.
The telescope, whose main mirror is more than 21 feet (6.5 meters) wide, is an international collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency. It is expected to operate for about 20 years.
