James Webb telescope releases new photos of stunning spiral galaxies

The James Webb telescope has just dropped some seriously jaw-dropping pics of spiral galaxies

By Yusuf AlamPublished 2 years ago • 3 min read

Face-on spiral galaxy, NGC 628, is split diagonally in this image: The James Webb Space Telescope’s observations appear at top left, and the Hubble Space Telescope’s on bottom right. Webb and Hubble’s images show a striking contrast, an inverse of darkness and light. Why? Webb’s observations combine near- and mid-infrared light and Hubble’s showcase visible light. Dust absorbs ultraviolet and visible light, and then re-emits it in the infrared. In Webb's images, we see dust glowing in infrared light. In Hubble’s images, dark regions are where starlight is absorbed by dust. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford), and the PHANGS team

Mind-Blowing Galaxies: James Webb telescope's new pics of spiral galaxies under the PHANGS project have scientists thrilled. The detailed images, captured in infrared vision, reveal bubble-like structures within gas and dust, potentially remnants of exploding stars, leaving researchers awe-struck.
Record-Breaking Catalog: PHANGS program, with James Webb telescope's aid, released a catalog of 100,000 star clusters, the largest to date. This extensive cataloging, including various star types, promises a more comprehensive understanding of their life cycles, as explained by Professor Adam Leroy.
Black Hole Insights: Identifying galaxies with black holes becomes intriguing with the Webb Space Telescope's advice: seek those with pink and red coloring at their centers. The telescope's ability to capture these features enhances our exploration of cosmic phenomena, adding a vibrant touch to our understanding of the universe.

The James Webb Space Telescope observed 19 nearby face-on spiral galaxies in near- and mid-infrared light as part of its contributions to the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) program. PHANGS also includes images and data from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the Very Large Telescope’s Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, which included observations taken in ultraviolet, visible, and radio light.

Hey there! So, check this out – the James Webb telescope has just dropped some seriously jaw-dropping pics of spiral galaxies, and it's blowing scientists' minds! This international project they're part of, called PHANGS (Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS), just got a whole lot cooler.

Now, what's got these scientists all hyped up is the crazy level of detail in these pics. Janice Lee from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore is losing it, saying these new images are "extraordinary" and "mind-blowing." Even the researchers who've been nerding out over these galaxies for decades are like, "Whoa!"

Here's the scoop – each photo is like a galactic family portrait, featuring millions of stars. And get this, the James Webb telescope used infrared vision to snap these shots, giving us these vibrant and colorful images. Stars are rocking a cool blue, while gas and dust are all about that red life, according to CNN.

But what's really turning heads are these gigantic bubble-like things in the gas and dust. Adam Leroy, a big-shot Astronomy professor at Ohio State University, is throwing some wisdom our way, saying these bubbles could be the aftermath of stars going boom-like, exploding and leaving these massive holes in space stuff. It's like cosmic Swiss cheese!

Now, if you're on the lookout for galaxies rocking black holes in their center, the Webb Space Telescope says, "Look for the pink and red vibes at the center." Apparently, that's where the black hole action is at.

Spiral galaxy NGC 1087 is 80 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus.

And guess what? The James Webb telescope isn't just snapping pics for the 'gram; it's breaking records too. Thanks to these fresh images, the PHANGS program dropped a catalog with around 100,000 star clusters – the biggest star catalog ever! According to Leroy, this cataloging party helps us understand the life cycles of these celestial dudes better.

Oh, and let's not forget the nostalgia trip. The PHANGS program gave us a sweet comparison, showing galaxies that both Hubble and Webb have captured. It's like a cosmic throwback, and it's awesome.

So, there you have it – the James Webb telescope is not just the cool kid on the block; it's rewriting the starry script with its mind-blowing, bubble-filled, and record-breaking pics. If you're a space nerd or just someone who loves a good space selfie, this is definitely the telescope to keep an eye on. Can't wait to see what else it's got in store for us!

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