The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed dazzling new details of a “ghost galaxy” 32 million light-years away, in a new image released by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The telescope’s infrared technology, launched in December 2021, has allowed an even clearer view of the galaxy than astronomers have ever seen before.
“Webb’s sharp vision revealed delicate filaments of gas and dust within the grandiose spiraling arms that wind outward from the center of this image,” NASA and ESA said in a statement. .
“A lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides a clear view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy,” the same source added.
The image shows the galaxy’s bright white, red, pink and light blue dust and star appendages swirling around a bright blue center, all against a dark deep space background.
The phantom galaxy is a “favorite target of astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals”, NASA and ESA said.
The photo taken by Webb will help them “learn more about the early phases of star formation in the local universe” and record more information about 19 star-forming galaxies near our own Milky Way.