NASA releases new image of the Phantom Galaxy
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Stunning new images from the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Telescope have revealed the Phantom Galaxy, a spiral of solar systems 32 million light-years from Earth.
The galaxy is located in the constellation Pisces, according to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is partnering with NASA.
The phantom galaxy, officially known as M74, is a kind of spiral galaxy known as the “Grand Design Spiral”. This means that it has well-defined spiral arms.
The images were created using data from both the Hubble and Webb telescopes. Webb discovered “thin filaments of gas and dust” in the spiral arms of the galaxy. The images also give a clear view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy, not obscured by gas.
The ESA noted that the Webb Telescope also used its Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) to study the Phantom Galaxy as part of a project to study the earliest phases of star formation.
While Webb is best at observing infrared wavelengths of light, Hubble has “particularly sharp vision” in the ultraviolet and visible, according to the agency. This revealed particularly bright regions of star formation known as HII regions.
The combination of data from both telescopes has allowed scientists to gain an even deeper understanding of this galaxy and create an impressive image of the cosmos.
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