This image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the heart of M74, otherwise known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s keen vision revealed fine filaments of gas and dust in giant spiral arms extending outward from the center of this image. The lack of gas in the core region also makes the nuclear star cluster in the center of the galaxy clearly visible. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team
Incredible new images of M74’s spectacular Phantom Galaxy demonstrate the power of space observatories working together at different wavelengths. In this case, from history[{” attribute=””>James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the galaxy.
The Phantom Galaxy is located approximately 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. It lies almost face-on to Earth. This, coupled with its well-defined spiral arms, makes it a favorite target for astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals.
New images of Phantom Galaxy M74 demonstrate the power of space observatories working together at different wavelengths. This video includes a Hubble Space Telescope view of the galaxy, showing older, red stars toward the center, younger, bluer stars in the spiral arms, and the most active star formation in the red bubbles of the H II regions. The James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, instead highlighting the gas and dust masses in the galaxy’s arms and the dense star cluster in its core. A composite image of M74 combines the two for a truly unique look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy.
M74 is a special class spiral galaxy known as the ‘great design spiral’. This means that its spiral arms are prominent and well defined, unlike the patchy and ragged structure seen in some spiral galaxies.
Webb’s sharp vision revealed fine threads of gas and dust extending outward from the center of the image in M74’s magnificent spiral arms. The lack of gas in the core region also makes the nuclear star cluster in the center of the galaxy clearly visible.
M74 shines brightest in this combined optical/mid-infrared image, which features data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope.
With Hubble’s prestigious Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s powerful Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which captures a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors mark dust passing through the arms of the galaxy, while lighter oranges are hotter dust regions. Young stars in the arms and core are highlighted in blue. The heavier, older stars towards the center of the galaxy are shown in blue and green, projecting an eerie glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Star formation bubbles also appear in pink along the arms. It is rare to see such a variety of galactic features in a single image.
Scientists combine data from telescopes across the electromagnetic spectrum to truly understand astronomical objects. In this way, data from Hubble and Webb complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the magnificent galaxy M74.
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Presentation: J. Schmidt
Webb took a look at M74 using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to learn more about the earliest stages of star formation in the local Universe. These observations are part of a larger effort by the international PHANGS collaboration to map 19 nearby star-forming galaxies in the infrared. These galaxies have already been observed by the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories.
Adding crystal-clear Webb observations at longer wavelengths will allow astronomers to pinpoint star-forming regions in galaxies, accurately measure the masses and ages of star clusters, and gain insights into the nature of tiny dust grains drifting through interstellar space. .
This image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the heart of M74, otherwise known as the Phantom Galaxy. Webb’s keen eye revealed fine filaments of gas and dust in giant spiral arms extending outward from the center of this image. The lack of gas in the core region also makes the nuclear star cluster in the center of the galaxy clearly visible. M74 is a special class of spiral galaxy known as a “grand-design spiral,” meaning that its spiral arms are prominent and well-defined, unlike the patchy and ragged structure seen in some spiral galaxies.
Hubble observations of M74 They discovered particularly bright areas of star formation known as HII regions. Hubble’s sharp vision at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths complements Webb’s unparalleled sensitivity at infrared wavelengths, such as observations from ground-based radio telescopes. Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter array, ALMA.
By combining data from telescopes operating on it electromagnetic spectrumscientists can learn more about astronomical objects than using a single observatory – even slightly more powerful Webb!
New images of Phantom Galaxy M74 demonstrate the power of space observatories working together at different wavelengths.
At left, the Hubble Space Telescope’s view of the galaxy ranges from older, red stars toward the center, to younger and bluer stars in its spiral arms, to the most active star formation in the red bubbles of the H II regions. At right, the James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, instead highlighting the masses of gas and dust in the galaxy’s arms and the dense star cluster in its core. The combined image in the center combines the two for a truly unique look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy.
Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST Team; ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Presentation: J. Schmidt
About Webb
The James Webb Space Telescope the world’s first space science observatory. Webb will Solve the mysteries of our solar system, see distant worlds around other stars, and explore the mysterious structures and origins of our Universe and our place in it. It is an international program led by Webb[{” attribute=””>NASA with its partners, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency. The major contributions of ESA to the mission are: the NIRSpec instrument; the MIRI instrument optical bench assembly; the provision of the launch services; and personnel to support mission operations. In return for these contributions, European scientists will get a minimum share of 15% of the total observing time, like for the Hubble Space Telescope.
M74 shines brightest in this combined optical/mid-infrared image, which features data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. With Hubble’s prestigious Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s powerful Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which captures a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors mark dust passing through the arms of the galaxy, while lighter oranges are hotter dust regions. Young stars in the arms and core are highlighted in blue. The heavier, older stars towards the center of the galaxy are shown in blue and green, projecting an eerie glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Star formation bubbles also appear in pink along the arms. It is rare to see such a variety of galactic features in a single image.
Contributed to MIRI by ESA and NASA, the instrument was designed and built in partnership with a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (MIRI European Consortium). JPL and the University of Arizona.
