Stunning Image of Arp 107: Webb Telescope Captures Rare Galactic Merger and Star Formation

This cosmic dance, known as Arp 107, occurred when two galaxies came close to each other, building a “bridge” of stars. This galactic merger, which has never been so clearly depicted before, sheds more light on the mysteries of the universe.

In the image captured by the powerful cameras of the Webb Telescope, the white regions formed between the galaxies attract attention. These areas reveal old stars in the two galaxies and the bridge they form. According to the European Space Agency, this bridge is made up of gas and stars. It is thought that the Milky Way Galaxy may one day experience a similar merger.

This collision causes not only the merging of galaxies but also the birth of new stars. Clouds of dense gas coalesce and form new stars. The Webb Mid-Infrared Instrument visualizes these regions in orange and red, creating a cosmic spectacle.

The image shows not only colliding galaxies, but also distant galaxies in the background. These galaxies, almost all of which have a spiral structure, shine like a great cosmic land, each one full of its own stars and planets.

Although the collision of galaxies is an inevitable process, it is not a serious threat to planets, according to astronomer Diego Munoz of Northern Arizona University. The great distance between stars in galaxies means that collisions generally do not threaten the safety of planets. “If we shrink the sun to the size of a grain of sand, the distance to the nearest star will be kilometers,” says planetary scientist Sally Dodson-Robinson from the University of Delaware, adding that the probability of stars colliding is very low. .