James Webb Telescope unveils breathtaking images of merging galaxies
Cosmic image of two galaxies merging together
To mark the second anniversary of operations of the James Webb Space Telescope on Friday (Jul12), NASA released a magnificent new cosmic image of two galaxies merging together.
The James Webb Space Telescope, which launched on Dec25, 2021, has transformed the field of astronomy with spectacular images that are assisting researchers discover some of the mysteries of the universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint project involving NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which orbits Earth, Webb orbits the sun approximately 1 million miles away from Earth.
The image released on Friday shows two merging galaxies, together known as Arp 142 and nicknamed "the Penguin and the Egg."
The "Penguin" is the indistinct coiled galaxy that looks a lot like a penguin in the middle, while the "Egg" is the egg-shaped galaxy on the left.
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It is likely that the "Penguin" and the "Egg" are about 100,000 lightyears apart.
NASA observed that these galaxies first crossed paths 25 to 75 million years in the past. Their gravitational attraction will cause them to circle each other multiple times before ultimately merging into a single galaxy in hundreds of millions of years.
When observed closely, Webb's image is filled with distant galaxies. Some appear in spiral and oval shapes, while others are scattered as shapeless dots.
"Thanks to ongoing research, we're making significant strides in understanding how the very first galaxies formed and evolved in the universe," says DrMark Clampin, director of the astrophysics division at NASA headquarters in Washington.
He further explained that, unlike the Hubble Telescope, Webb can see inside these big dust clouds, and start to study stars as they're being formed."
This allows scientists to watch these stars evolve and study.
"Beyond understanding the first galaxies," Dr. Clampin continued, "our focus is on characterising exoplanets, planets beyond our solar system, and ultimately searching for signs that they could support life."
(With inputs from agencies)