NASA and its companions, the European and Canadian area businesses, are celebrating the second yr for the reason that James Webb Telescope began sending again images of the universe by releasing an image of the Penguin and the Egg galaxies. These are interacting galaxies collectively generally known as Arp 142 positioned 326 million light-years from Earth, captured by the James Webb in interactive mild.
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 Approach 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 observe that whereas the Penguin seems greater than the Egg galaxy at its left, they’ve roughly the identical mass. If both galaxy had been smaller, they might’ve already merged.
Along with the galaxies prominently featured within the picture, you will additionally see extra distant galaxies within the background. The area businesses mentioned it is a “testomony to the sensitivity and backbone 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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