NASA and its companions, the European and Canadian area companies, are celebrating the second 12 months because the James Webb Telescope began sending again pictures of the universe by releasing an image of the Penguin and the Egg galaxies. These are interacting galaxies collectively referred to as Arp 142 positioned 326 million light-years from Earth, captured by the James Webb in interactive gentle.
The galaxies first interacted between 25 and 75 million years in the past, inflicting new star formation. Based mostly on earlier analysis, 100 to 200 stars have fashioned per 12 months within the Penguin — sure, that’s the galaxy on the middle of the picture that appears like a hen’s head — whereas the Milky Approach solely produces between six and 7 new stars per 12 months. 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 larger than the Egg galaxy at its left, they’ve roughly the identical mass. If both galaxy have been smaller, they might’ve already merged.
Along with the galaxies prominently featured within the picture, you may additionally see extra distant galaxies within the background. The area companies 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 attributable to spiraling prices and building woes. The companies launched the primary picture it ever captured, the deepest image of the distant universe, in July 2022. Final 12 months, in addition they commemorated its first anniversary with a picture of a close-by stellar nursery.
