The James Webb Space Telescope recently unveiled stunning images of 19 spiral galaxies, capturing never-before-seen details of millions of stars within these galaxies. This remarkable feat was made possible by Webb’s unique ability to observe the universe in various wavelengths of infrared light, providing unprecedented insights into the stars, gas, and dust within the intricate structure of each galaxy. Astronomers believe that approximately 60% of all galaxies are spiral galaxies like the ones captured in Webb’s images, shedding light on the star formation and evolution of galaxies, including our very own Milky Way.
These captivating images, part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) project, were a collaborative effort involving over 100 astronomers from around the world. The project also involves data from other telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Space Observatory’s Very Large Telescope’s MUSE instrument. By combining data from different telescopes across various wavelengths of light, astronomers can address observational gaps and gain a more comprehensive understanding of these galaxies.
The new images offer unprecedented insights into the distribution of gas and dust within spiral galaxies, as well as the processes involved in star formation. Janice Lee, a core member of the PHANGS project, expressed astonishment at the level of detail revealed by Webb’s observations, stating that the images provide a groundbreaking view of the star formation cycle within these galaxies. The Near-Infrared Camera on Webb captured millions of stars in sparkling blue, while the Mid-Infrared Instrument highlighted the glowing dust surrounding the stars, offering a glimpse into the process of stellar growth.
In addition to stars and dust, Webb’s images also revealed large, spherical shell-shaped voids within the galactic gas and dust, likely carved out by the explosions of stars. These discoveries provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, with implications for understanding the life cycles of stars and the distribution of gas and dust within these cosmic structures.
Overall, the groundbreaking images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope have opened a new chapter in our understanding of spiral galaxies, offering unparalleled insights into the complex processes that shape these cosmic entities. With these new revelations, astronomers are poised to deepen their understanding of the universe and the fundamental processes that drive the formation and evolution of galaxies and stars.