This image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the core of M74, also known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s sharp vision revealed minute filaments of gas and dust in the massive spiral arms projecting outward from the center of this image. The lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an unobtrusive view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, J. Lee, and the PHANGS-JWST team
Stunning new images of the stunning Phantom Galaxy, M74, show the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths. In this case, the data from[{” attribute=””>James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the galaxy.
The Phantom Galaxy is located approximately 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. It lies almost face-on to Earth. This, coupled with its well-defined spiral arms, makes it a favorite target for astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals.
New images of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, show the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths. This video includes the Hubble Space Telescope’s view of the galaxy, showing older, redder stars toward the center, to smaller, bluer stars in their spiral arms, and to the most active star formation in the red bubbles of the H II regions. The James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, highlighting instead the clumps of gas and dust within the galaxy’s arms, and the dense cluster of stars at its core. The merged image of the M74 merges these two for a truly unique look at this “big design” spiral galaxy.
M74 is a specific class of spiral galaxy Known as the “big design spiral”. This means that its spiral arms are prominent and well defined, unlike the patchy and rough structure seen in some spiral galaxies.
Webb’s sharp vision revealed minute filaments of gas and dust in the massive spiral arms of M74, which bulge outward from the image center. The lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an unobtrusive view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy.
M74 shines at its fullest in this optical/mid-infrared composite image, which includes data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.
With Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the Web’s powerful mid-infrared (MIRI) instrument that captures a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors denote dust accumulating across the arms of the galaxy, and bright orange are hotter dust regions. Young stars throughout the arms and nuclear core are selected in blue. Heavier and older stars appear toward the galaxy’s center in cyan and green, showing a frightening glow from the ghostly galaxy’s core. Star-forming bubbles also appear in pink on the arms. It’s rare to see such a variety of galactic features in one photo.
Scientists collect data from telescopes that operate across the electromagnetic spectrum to truly understand astronomical objects. In this way, data from Hubble and Webb complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the incredible galaxy M74.
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, J. Lee, and the PHANGS-JWST team; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Acknowledgments: J. Schmidt
Webb looked at M74 using the Medium Infrared Instrument (MIRI) in order to learn more about the early stages of star formation in the local universe. These observations are part of a larger effort to map 19 nearby star-forming galaxies in the infrared by the PHANGS International Collaboration. These galaxies have already been observed using the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories.
Adding crystal-clear web observations at longer wavelengths will allow astronomers to determine star-forming regions in galaxies, precisely measure the masses and ages of star clusters, and gain insight into the nature of tiny grains of dust drifting in interstellar space. .
This image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the core of M74, also known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s sharp vision revealed minute filaments of gas and dust in the massive spiral arms projecting outward from the center of this image. The lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an unobtrusive view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy. M74 is a specific class of spiral galaxies known as “large design spirals,” meaning that its spiral arms are prominent and well-defined, unlike the patchy and rough structure seen in some spiral galaxies.
Hubble notes on M74 It revealed particularly bright regions of star formation known as HII regions. Hubble’s sharp vision at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths complements Webb’s unparalleled sensitivity at infrared wavelengths, as do observations from ground-based radio telescopes such as Atacama Large Millimeter/Meter Matrix, ALMA.
By integrating data from telescopes operating across Electromagnetic fieldIn fact, scientists can gain more insight into astronomical objects than using a single observatory – even if it’s just as powerful web!
New images of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, show the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths.
On the left, the Hubble Space Telescope’s view of the galaxy ranges from older, redder stars toward the center, to smaller, bluer stars in their spiral arms, to the most active star formations in the red bubbles of the H II regions. On the right, the James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, instead highlighting the clumps of gas and dust within the galaxy’s arms, and the dense cluster of stars at its core. The center merged image combines these two for a truly unique look at this “big design” spiral galaxy.
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, J. Lee, and the PHANGS-JWST team; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Acknowledgments: J. Schmidt
About Web
The James Webb Space Telescope is The world’s first space science observatory. web will Solve puzzles in our solar systemLook beyond the distant worlds around other stars, and explore the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by[{” attribute=””>NASA with its partners, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency. The major contributions of ESA to the mission are: the NIRSpec instrument; the MIRI instrument optical bench assembly; the provision of the launch services; and personnel to support mission operations. In return for these contributions, European scientists will get a minimum share of 15% of the total observing time, like for the Hubble Space Telescope.
M74 shines at its fullest in this optical/mid-infrared composite image, which includes data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. With Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and the Web’s powerful mid-infrared (MIRI) instrument that captures a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors denote dust accumulating across the arms of the galaxy, and bright orange are hotter dust regions. Young stars throughout the arms and nuclear core are selected in blue. Heavier and older stars appear toward the galaxy’s center in cyan and green, showing a frightening glow from the ghostly galaxy’s core. Star-forming bubbles also appear in pink on the arms. It’s rare to see such a variety of galactic features in one photo.
MIRI and NASA contributed to MIRI, with the instrument designed and built by a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (MIRI European Consortium) in partnership with Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Arizona.
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