NASA published today of the Phantom Galaxy, also known as M74 and NGC 628. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) took it. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Webb telescope send back an image of the Phantom Galaxy. NASA previously in 2022.
Below is a 2022 image for comparison. Despite the different colors, it is clear that both images belong to the same galaxy.
Webb took the old image using only the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). Instead, the new one combines MIRI and Webb’s Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) data. This combination allowed scientists from the Emerging extraAgalactic Star clusTers (FEAST) team to observe the nurseries of the Phantom Galaxy.
For the uninitiated, stellar nurseries are regions of space filled with gases and molecular clouds. They are the birthplace of stars and planets. For this reason, some people refer to them as star-forming regions.
In addition to observing star formation, the FEAST team’s primary mission is to investigate feedback from stars outside the Milky Way galaxy. By looking at how much energy flows from stars to their surroundings, scientists can better understand how stars form.
The combined data from Webb’s MIRI and NIRCam instruments allowed scientists to conclude that the Phantom Galaxy’s spiral arms are where stars form most actively in the celestial body. Thanks to NIRCam, JWST can also see hydrogen emission lines that are no longer affected by dust, showing where giant stars are still forming.
JWST kindly continues to send pictures back for us to enjoy . For those who want to see more has many.
