New Images from James Webb Space Telescope Reveal Spiral Galaxies Near Milky Way
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured stunning new images of 19 spiral galaxies located relatively close to our Milky Way. These images, released by the team of scientists involved in the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, provide valuable insights into star formation, galaxy structure, and evolution.
The closest galaxy among the 19 is NGC5068, situated approximately 15 million light years away from Earth. On the other hand, the most distant galaxy captured by the JWST is NGC1365, which is about 60 million light years away. To put this into perspective, a light year is equivalent to about 9.5 trillion kilometers, representing the distance light travels in a year.
Launched in 2021 and commencing data collection in 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the early universe while capturing breathtaking images of space. Unlike its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, which primarily observes the universe at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths, the JWST focuses on infrared observations.
Spiral galaxies are a common type of galaxy, with our very own Milky Way falling into this category. The recent observations made by the JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) have revealed approximately 100,000 star clusters and millions, if not billions, of individual stars.
According to University of Oxford astronomer Thomas Williams, who led the team’s data processing on the images, these new data are crucial as they provide a fresh perspective on the earliest phase of star formation. Williams explains that stars are born deep within dusty clouds that block out visible light but illuminate at the JWST’s infrared wavelengths. This phase of star formation remains relatively unknown, making these observations all the more significant.
One interesting finding from the JWST’s images is that about half of spiral galaxies possess a straight structure known as a bar, extending from their centers. The spiral arms of these galaxies connect to this central bar. Williams suggests that galaxies form from the inside out, gradually growing larger over their lifetimes.
The images captured by the JWST allow scientists to determine, for the first time, the detailed structure of the dust and gas clouds from which stars and planets form. These observations extend beyond our neighboring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud and Small Magellanic Cloud, both of which are in close proximity to the Milky Way.
Erik Rosolowsky, an astronomer at Canada’s University of Alberta, explains that previous observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope were limited by the dust present in galaxies, obstructing our understanding of how galaxies operate as systems. However, with the JWST’s infrared capabilities, scientists can now see through this dust and observe stars both behind and within these enshrouding clouds.
The release of these remarkable images from the James Webb Space Telescope marks a significant milestone in our exploration of the universe. With each new discovery, our understanding of star formation, galaxy structure, and evolution deepens, bringing us closer to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos.
Sources:
– Reuters
– VOA Learning English
