NASA and its companions, the European and Canadian area businesses, are celebrating the second yr because the James Webb Telescope began sending again photographs of the universe by releasing an image of the Penguin and the Egg galaxies. These are interacting galaxies collectively referred to as Arp 142 situated 326 million light-years from Earth, captured by the James Webb in interactive gentle.
The galaxies first interacted between 25 and 75 million years in the past, inflicting new star formation. Primarily based on earlier analysis, 100 to 200 stars have shaped per yr within the Penguin — sure, that’s the galaxy on the heart of the picture that appears like a hen’s head — whereas the Milky Means solely produces between six and 7 new stars per yr. On this picture taken by the James Webb, the interplay between the 2 galaxies is marked by a faintly glowing upside-down U. Take word that whereas the Penguin seems greater than the Egg galaxy at its left, they’ve roughly the identical mass. If both galaxy have been smaller, they might’ve already merged.
Along with the galaxies prominently featured within the picture, you may additionally see extra distant galaxies within the background. The area businesses stated it is a “testomony to the sensitivity and determination of Webb’s infrared cameras.” NASA and its companions launched the James Webb Telescope in late 2021 after greater than a decade of delays brought on by spiraling prices and development woes. The businesses launched the primary picture it ever captured, the deepest image of the distant universe, in July 2022. Final yr, additionally they commemorated its first anniversary with a picture of a close-by stellar nursery.
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