Using infrared light detection, JWST was able to look through the dust that obscured the Cartwheel Galaxy from view when other telescopes observed it. The image above is a composite from JWST’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The JWST website has higher resolution versions. Data from NIRCam, which is JWST’s primary imager, are colored blue, orange and yellow, while MIRI data is red. NASA says that the blue dots that appear in the red swirls of dust are individual stars or pockets of star formation. “NIRCam also reveals the difference between the smooth distribution or shape of the oldest star populations and the dense dust in the core compared to the group shapes associated with the younger star populations outside it,” the agency noted. MIRI, meanwhile, was able to discover more details about the galaxy’s dust. It detected areas that are rich in hydrocarbons and other chemical compounds, along with silica dust, which is similar to much of the dust found on Earth. These regions form many spiral radii that led to the name Cartwheel Galaxy. Hubble was previously able to image the rays, but they are much clearer in JWST observations. NASA also provided a MIRI-only image of the galaxy: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI and Webb ERO Production Team The Cartwheel Galaxy was formed after a collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller one. It has two rings, a bright inner ring and a colorful outer ring. The outer ring has been expanding from the center of the collision for about 440 million years. The inner ring contains “a huge amount of hot dust,” NASA said. The brightest regions host giant young star clusters. The outer ring, meanwhile, features star formation and supernovae. When it expands and collides with the surrounding gas, star formation occurs. NASA, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency and the Space Telescope Science Institute last month unveiled the first stunning color images from JWST. They included one showing the “Cosmic Cliffs” of the Carina Nebula and a look at stars in the early stages of formation. The telescope has also seen Earendel, the most distant known star in the universe. While it’s still early days for JWST’s scientific operations, it’s already helping scientists develop a deeper understanding of the universe — as well as providing some incredible images for the rest of us to marvel at. We are excited to share the first JWST image of Earendel, the most distant star known in our universe, lensed and magnified by a massive galaxy cluster. Observed Saturday by the JWST 2282 program. pic.twitter.com/YoZZKRsdzf — Cosmic Spring JWST (@CosmicSprngJWST) August 2, 2022 All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
