The images were captured by the telescope’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and are sharp enough to show individual stars scattered throughout the galaxy’s spectacular form. The blue dots shown in the images are individual stars, or star-forming regions, while the red dots show hydrocarbon-rich regions. The Cartwheel Galaxy was previously captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, but JWST’s ability to detect infrared light has now revealed new insights into its structure and life cycle. The galaxy is located about 500 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Sculptor. Its wheel-like appearance is thought to be the result of a highly energetic collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller galaxy not visible in this image. The new image taken by JWST shows the Cartwheel Galaxy in unprecedented detail. © NASA, ESA, CSA, STcI It consists of two clearly visible rings – a bright inner ring and a more colorful outer ring. Both rings expand outward from the point of collision, like the ripples created by dropping a stone into a pond. At its center is a black hole. The bright core is filled with raging clouds of hot dust and is dotted with young star clusters. The outer ring, which astronomers say has been expanding for about 440 million years, sparks the formation of new stars as it collides with surrounding pockets of gas. Researchers say the Cartwheel Galaxy is currently in a state of great change, and that further study of this mysterious cosmic object will provide insights into its formation, life cycle and future. Read more about JWST:
