New images of the spectacular Phantom Galaxy, M74, showcase the power of space observatories working together in multiple wavelengths. In this case, data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope compliment each other to provide a comprehensive view of the galaxy.
The Phantom Galaxy is around 32 million light-years away
from Earth in the constellation Pisces, and lies almost face-on to Earth. This,
coupled with its well-defined spiral arms, makes it a favourite target for
astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals.
M74 is a particular 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.
Webb’s sharp vision has revealed delicate filaments of gas
and dust in the grandiose spiral arms of M74, which wind outwards from the
centre of the image. A lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an
unobscured view of the nuclear star cluster at the galaxy's centre.
Webb gazed into M74 with its Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI)
in order to learn more about the earliest phases of star formation in the local
Universe. These observations are part of a larger effort to chart 19 nearby
star-forming galaxies in the infrared by the international PHANGS
collaboration. Those galaxies have already been observed using the NASA/ESA
Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories.
Multi-observatory views of M74 |
The addition of crystal-clear Webb observations at longer
wavelengths will allow astronomers to pinpoint star-forming regions in the
galaxies, accurately measure the masses and ages of star clusters, and gain
insights into the nature of the small grains of dust drifting in interstellar
space.
Hubble
observations of M74 have revealed 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, as do observations from ground-based radio telescopes such as the
Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, ALMA.
By combining data from telescopes operating across the
electromagnetic spectrum, scientists can gain greater insight into astronomical
objects than by using a single observatory – even one as powerful as Webb!
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