In photos: "Extraordinary" new Webb telescope images detail 19 spiral galaxies
Published Date: 1/30/2024
Source: axios.com

A "treasure trove" of images featuring 19 nearby spiral galaxies that the James Webb Space Telescope captured were released by NASA and partner agencies on Monday.

Why it matters: Scientists are studying the images and their analysis will "advance our understanding of star formation and the evolution of spiral galaxies," per a statement from the European Space Agency.


NASA reports "Hubble's image of NGC 628 shows a densely populated face-on spiral galaxy anchored by its central region, which has a light yellow haze that takes up about a quarter of the view." Photo: NASA, STScI
The spiral galaxy NGC 1566 is 60 million light-years away in the constellation Dorado. "Webb's new images are extraordinary," said Janice Lee, a project scientist for strategic initiatives at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, in a statement. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team
Webb Telescope's view face-on of spiral galaxy NGC 4254. The images are "mind-blowing even for researchers who have studied these same galaxies for decades," Lee said. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team
The NGC 1433 is 46 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium, according to the European Space Agency. "Teams of researchers are studying these images to uncover the origins of these intricate structures," the ESA notes. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Lee (STScI), T. Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team

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