Spectacular Image of Heart of Phantom Galaxy Showcases Webb’s Power

Heart of the Phantom Galaxy

This picture from the James Webb Area Telescope reveals the center of M74, in any other case generally known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s sharp imaginative and prescient has revealed delicate filaments of gasoline and mud within the grandiose spiral arms which wind outwards from the middle of this picture. A scarcity of gasoline within the nuclear area additionally offers an unobscured view of the nuclear star cluster on the galaxy’s middle.  Credit score: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Crew

Unimaginable new photos of the spectacular Phantom Galaxy, M74, showcase the ability of house observatories working collectively in a number of wavelengths. On this case, knowledge from the James Webb Area Telescope and the Hubble Area Telescope complement one another to supply a complete view of the galaxy.

The Phantom Galaxy is positioned roughly 32 million light-years away from Earth within the constellation Pisces. It lies virtually face-on to Earth. This, coupled with its well-defined spiral arms, makes it a favourite goal for astronomers learning the origin and construction of galactic spirals.


New photos of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, showcase the ability of house observatories working collectively in a number of wavelengths. This video consists of the Hubble Area Telescope’s view of the galaxy, which showcases the older, redder stars in the direction of the middle, to youthful and bluer stars in its spiral arms, to essentially the most lively stellar formation within the crimson bubbles of H II areas. The James Webb Area Telescope’s picture is strikingly completely different, as an alternative highlighting the lots of gasoline and mud inside the galaxy’s arms, and the dense cluster of stars at its core. The mixed picture of M74 merges these two for a really distinctive take a look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy.

M74 is a selected class of spiral galaxy generally known as a ‘grand design spiral.’ Because of this its spiral arms are distinguished and well-defined, in contrast to the patchy and ragged construction seen in some spiral galaxies.

Webb’s sharp imaginative and prescient has revealed delicate filaments of gasoline and mud within the grandiose spiral arms of M74, which wind outwards from the middle of the picture. A scarcity of gasoline within the nuclear area additionally offers an unobscured view of the nuclear star cluster on the galaxy’s middle.

Phantom Galaxy Across the Spectrum

M74 shines at its brightest on this mixed optical/mid-infrared picture, that includes knowledge from each the Hubble Area Telescope and the James Webb Area Telescope.
With Hubble’s venerable Superior Digital camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s highly effective Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) capturing a variety of wavelengths, this new picture has outstanding depth. The crimson colours mark mud threaded by way of the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges being areas of hotter mud. The younger stars all through the arms and the nuclear core are picked out in blue. Heavier, older stars in the direction of the galaxy’s middle are proven in cyan and inexperienced, projecting a spooky glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Bubbles of star formation are additionally seen in pink throughout the arms. Such quite a lot of galactic options is uncommon to see in a single picture.
Scientists mix knowledge from telescopes working throughout the electromagnetic spectrum to actually perceive astronomical objects. On this means, knowledge from Hubble and Webb complement one another to supply a complete view of the spectacular M74 galaxy.
Credit score: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Crew; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Acknowledgement: J. Schmidt

Webb peered into M74 utilizing its Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) with a view to be taught extra concerning the earliest phases of star formation within the native Universe. These observations are half of a bigger effort to chart 19 close by star-forming galaxies within the infrared by the worldwide PHANGS collaboration. These galaxies have already been noticed utilizing the Hubble Area Telescope and ground-based observatories.

The addition of crystal-clear Webb observations at longer wavelengths will allow astronomers to pinpoint star-forming areas within the galaxies, precisely measure the lots and ages of star clusters, and acquire insights into the character of the small grains of mud drifting in interstellar house.


This picture from the James Webb Area Telescope reveals the center of M74, in any other case generally known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s sharp imaginative and prescient has revealed delicate filaments of gasoline and mud within the grandiose spiral arms which wind outwards from the middle of this picture. A scarcity of gasoline within the nuclear area additionally offers an unobscured view of the nuclear star cluster on the galaxy’s middle. M74 is a selected class of spiral galaxy generally known as a ‘grand design spiral’, that means that its spiral arms are distinguished and well-defined, in contrast to the patchy and ragged construction seen in some spiral galaxies.

Hubble observations of M74 have revealed significantly brilliant areas of star formation generally known as HII areas. Hubble’s sharp imaginative and prescient at ultraviolet and visual wavelengths enhances Webb’s unparalleled sensitivity at infrared wavelengths, as do observations from ground-based radio telescopes such because the Atacama Massive Millimeter/submillimeter Array, ALMA.

By combining knowledge from telescopes working throughout the electromagnetic spectrum, scientists can acquire larger perception into astronomical objects than by utilizing a single observatory – even one as highly effective as Webb!

Multi Observatory Views of M74

New photos of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, showcase the ability of house observatories working collectively in a number of wavelengths.
On the left, the Hubble Area Telescope’s view of the galaxy ranges from the older, redder stars in the direction of the middle, to youthful and bluer stars in its spiral arms, to essentially the most lively stellar formation within the crimson bubbles of H II areas. On the suitable, the James Webb Area Telescope’s picture is strikingly completely different, as an alternative highlighting the lots of gasoline and mud inside the galaxy’s arms, and the dense cluster of stars at its core. The mixed picture within the middle merges these two for a really distinctive take a look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy.
Credit score: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Crew; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Acknowledgement: J. Schmidt

About Webb

The James Webb Area Telescope is the world’s premier house science observatory. Webb will remedy mysteries in our Photo voltaic System, look past to distant worlds round different stars, and probe the mysterious buildings and origins of our Universe and our place in it. Webb is a world program led by NASA with its companions, ESA and the Canadian Area Company. The main contributions of ESA to the mission are: the NIRSpec instrument; the MIRI instrument optical bench meeting; the availability of the launch providers; and personnel to assist mission operations. In return for these contributions, European scientists will get a minimal share of 15% of the overall observing time, like for the Hubble Area Telescope.


M74 shines at its brightest on this mixed optical/mid-infrared picture, that includes knowledge from each the Hubble Area Telescope and the James Webb Area Telescope. With Hubble’s venerable Superior Digital camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s highly effective Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) capturing a variety of wavelengths, this new picture has outstanding depth. The crimson colours mark mud threaded by way of the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges being areas of hotter mud. The younger stars all through the arms and the nuclear core are picked out in blue. Heavier, older stars in the direction of the galaxy’s middle are proven in cyan and inexperienced, projecting a spooky glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Bubbles of star formation are additionally seen in pink throughout the arms. Such quite a lot of galactic options is uncommon to see in a single picture.

MIRI was contributed by ESA and NASA, with the instrument designed and constructed by a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (the MIRI European Consortium) in partnership with JPL and the College of Arizona.

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