\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVivid Portrait of Interacting Galaxies Marks Webb\u2019s Second Anniversary\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Arp](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/webb-nircam-miri-stsci-01j06y2cnayapkbw5ekm4s94xj-4k.png?w=1100\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWebb\u2019s view of the interacting galaxies of Arp 142 that combines Webb\u2019s NIRCam and MIRI instrument images. Full image below.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTwo for two! A duo of interacting galaxies commemorates the second science anniversary of NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, which takes constant observations, including images<\/a> and highly detailed data known as spectra<\/a>. Its operations have led to a \u201cparade\u201d of discoveries<\/a> by astronomers around the world.<\/p>\n\u201cSince President Biden and Vice President Harris unveiled the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope two years ago, Webb has continued to unlock the mysteries of the universe,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cWith remarkable images from the corners of the cosmos, going back nearly to the beginning of time, Webb\u2019s capabilities are shedding new light on our celestial surroundings and inspiring future generations of scientists, astronomers, and explorers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn just two years, Webb has transformed our view of the universe, enabling the kind of world-class science that drove NASA to make this mission a reality,\u201d said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cWebb is providing insights into longstanding mysteries about the early universe and ushering in a new era of studying distant worlds, while returning images that inspire people around the world and posing exciting new questions to answer. It has never been more possible to explore every facet of the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The telescope\u2019s specialization in capturing infrared light<\/a> \u2014 which is beyond what our own eyes can detect \u2014 shows these galaxies, collectively known as Arp 142, locked in a slow cosmic dance. Webb\u2019s observations, which combine near- and mid-infrared light from Webb\u2019s NIRCam<\/a> (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI<\/a> (Mid-Infrared Instrument), respectively, clearly show that they are joined by a haze represented in blue that is a mix of stars and gas, a result of their mingling.<\/p>\nTheir ongoing interaction was set in motion between 25 and 75 million years ago, when the Penguin (individually cataloged as NGC 2936) and the Egg (NGC 2937) completed their first pass. They will go on to shimmy and sway, completing several additional loops before merging into a single galaxy hundreds of millions of years from now.<\/p>\n
Image A: Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (NIRCam and MIRI)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Arp](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/webb-nircam-miri-stsci-01j06y2cnayapkbw5ekm4s94xj-4k.png?w=1467\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nThe distorted spiral galaxy at center, the Penguin, and the compact elliptical at left, the Egg, are locked in an active embrace. This near- and mid-infrared image combines data from NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope\u2019s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), and marks the telescope\u2019s second year of science. Webb\u2019s view shows that their interaction is marked by a glow of scattered stars represented in blue. Known jointly as Arp 142, the galaxies made their first pass by one another between 25 and 75 million years ago, causing \u201cfireworks,\u201d or new star formation, in the Penguin. The galaxies are approximately the same mass, which is why one hasn\u2019t consumed the other. <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nLet\u2019s Dance!<\/strong><\/h2>\nBefore their first approach, the Penguin held the shape of a spiral. Today, its galactic center<\/a> gleams like an eye, its unwound arms now shaping a beak, head, backbone, and fanned-out tail.<\/p>\nLike all spiral galaxies, the Penguin is still very rich in gas and dust. The galaxies\u2019 \u201cdance\u201d gravitationally pulled on the Penguin\u2019s thinner areas of gas and dust, causing them to crash in waves and form stars. Look for those areas in two places: what looks like a fish in its \u201cbeak\u201d and the \u201cfeathers\u201d in its \u201ctail.\u201d<\/p>\n
Surrounding these newer stars is smoke-like material that includes carbon-containing molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons<\/a>, which Webb is exceptional at detecting. Dust, seen as fainter, deeper orange arcs also swoops from its beak to tail feathers.<\/p>\nIn contrast, the Egg\u2019s compact shape remains largely unchanged. As an elliptical galaxy, it is filled with aging stars, and has a lot less gas and dust that can be pulled away to form new stars. If both were spiral galaxies, each would end the first \u201ctwist\u201d with new star formation and twirling curls, known as tidal tails.<\/p>\n
Another reason for the Egg\u2019s undisturbed appearance: These galaxies have approximately the same mass or heft, which is why the smaller-looking elliptical wasn\u2019t consumed or distorted by the Penguin.<\/p>\n
It is estimated that the Penguin and the Egg are about 100,000 light-years apart \u2014 quite close in astronomical terms. For context, the Milky Way galaxy and our nearest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy, are about 2.5 million light-years apart. They too will interact, but not for about 4 billion years<\/a>.<\/p>\nNow, look to the top right to spot a galaxy that is not<\/em> at this party. This edge-on galaxy, cataloged PGC 1237172, is 100 million light-years closer to Earth. It\u2019s also quite young, teeming with new, blue stars.<\/p>\nWant one more party trick? Switch to Webb\u2019s mid-infrared-only image<\/a> to see PGC 1237172 practically disappear. Mid-infrared light largely captures cooler, older stars and an incredible amount of dust. Since the galaxy\u2019s stellar population is so young, it \u201cvanishes\u201d in mid-infrared light.<\/p>\nImage B: Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (MIRI Only)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/webb-miri-stsci-01j06zjpn1wg2xt54hr1vqvedt-2k.png?w=1861\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nNASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope\u2019s mid-infrared view of interacting galaxies Arp 142 seems to sing in primary colors. The Egg shows up as a tiny, teal-colored oval, because it is made up of old stars and has lost or used up most of its gas and dust. At right, the Penguin\u2019s star-forming regions are represented in pink and purple, and contain smoke-like material known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nAlso take a moment to scan the background. Webb\u2019s image is overflowing with distant galaxies. Some take spiral and oval shapes, like those threaded throughout the Penguin\u2019s \u201ctail feathers,\u201d while others scattered throughout are shapeless dots. This is a testament to the sensitivity and resolution of the telescope\u2019s infrared instruments. (Compare Webb\u2019s view to the 2018 observation<\/a> that combines infrared light from NASA\u2019s retired Spitzer Space Telescope and near-infrared and visible light from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope.) Even though these observations only took a few hours, Webb revealed far more distant, redder, and dustier galaxies than previous telescopes \u2013 one more reason to expect Webb to continue to expand our understanding of everything in the universe.<\/p>\nWant more? Take a tour<\/a> to the image, \u201cfly through\u201d it in a visualization<\/a>, and compare<\/a> Webb\u2019s image to the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s.<\/p>\nArp 142 lies 326 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra.<\/p>\n
Video: Tour the Arp 142 Image<\/h2>\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTwo for two! A duo of interacting galaxies commemorates the second science anniversary of NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope, which takes constant observations, including images<\/a> and highly detailed data known as spectra<\/a>. Its operations have led to a \u201cparade\u201d of discoveries<\/a> by astronomers around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cSince President Biden and Vice President Harris unveiled the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope two years ago, Webb has continued to unlock the mysteries of the universe,\u201d said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. \u201cWith remarkable images from the corners of the cosmos, going back nearly to the beginning of time, Webb\u2019s capabilities are shedding new light on our celestial surroundings and inspiring future generations of scientists, astronomers, and explorers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn just two years, Webb has transformed our view of the universe, enabling the kind of world-class science that drove NASA to make this mission a reality,\u201d said Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cWebb is providing insights into longstanding mysteries about the early universe and ushering in a new era of studying distant worlds, while returning images that inspire people around the world and posing exciting new questions to answer. It has never been more possible to explore every facet of the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n The telescope\u2019s specialization in capturing infrared light<\/a> \u2014 which is beyond what our own eyes can detect \u2014 shows these galaxies, collectively known as Arp 142, locked in a slow cosmic dance. Webb\u2019s observations, which combine near- and mid-infrared light from Webb\u2019s NIRCam<\/a> (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI<\/a> (Mid-Infrared Instrument), respectively, clearly show that they are joined by a haze represented in blue that is a mix of stars and gas, a result of their mingling.<\/p>\n Their ongoing interaction was set in motion between 25 and 75 million years ago, when the Penguin (individually cataloged as NGC 2936) and the Egg (NGC 2937) completed their first pass. They will go on to shimmy and sway, completing several additional loops before merging into a single galaxy hundreds of millions of years from now.<\/p>\n Before their first approach, the Penguin held the shape of a spiral. Today, its galactic center<\/a> gleams like an eye, its unwound arms now shaping a beak, head, backbone, and fanned-out tail.<\/p>\n Like all spiral galaxies, the Penguin is still very rich in gas and dust. The galaxies\u2019 \u201cdance\u201d gravitationally pulled on the Penguin\u2019s thinner areas of gas and dust, causing them to crash in waves and form stars. Look for those areas in two places: what looks like a fish in its \u201cbeak\u201d and the \u201cfeathers\u201d in its \u201ctail.\u201d<\/p>\n Surrounding these newer stars is smoke-like material that includes carbon-containing molecules, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons<\/a>, which Webb is exceptional at detecting. Dust, seen as fainter, deeper orange arcs also swoops from its beak to tail feathers.<\/p>\n In contrast, the Egg\u2019s compact shape remains largely unchanged. As an elliptical galaxy, it is filled with aging stars, and has a lot less gas and dust that can be pulled away to form new stars. If both were spiral galaxies, each would end the first \u201ctwist\u201d with new star formation and twirling curls, known as tidal tails.<\/p>\n Another reason for the Egg\u2019s undisturbed appearance: These galaxies have approximately the same mass or heft, which is why the smaller-looking elliptical wasn\u2019t consumed or distorted by the Penguin.<\/p>\n It is estimated that the Penguin and the Egg are about 100,000 light-years apart \u2014 quite close in astronomical terms. For context, the Milky Way galaxy and our nearest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy, are about 2.5 million light-years apart. They too will interact, but not for about 4 billion years<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, look to the top right to spot a galaxy that is not<\/em> at this party. This edge-on galaxy, cataloged PGC 1237172, is 100 million light-years closer to Earth. It\u2019s also quite young, teeming with new, blue stars.<\/p>\n Want one more party trick? Switch to Webb\u2019s mid-infrared-only image<\/a> to see PGC 1237172 practically disappear. Mid-infrared light largely captures cooler, older stars and an incredible amount of dust. Since the galaxy\u2019s stellar population is so young, it \u201cvanishes\u201d in mid-infrared light.<\/p>\n Also take a moment to scan the background. Webb\u2019s image is overflowing with distant galaxies. Some take spiral and oval shapes, like those threaded throughout the Penguin\u2019s \u201ctail feathers,\u201d while others scattered throughout are shapeless dots. This is a testament to the sensitivity and resolution of the telescope\u2019s infrared instruments. (Compare Webb\u2019s view to the 2018 observation<\/a> that combines infrared light from NASA\u2019s retired Spitzer Space Telescope and near-infrared and visible light from NASA\u2019s Hubble Space Telescope.) Even though these observations only took a few hours, Webb revealed far more distant, redder, and dustier galaxies than previous telescopes \u2013 one more reason to expect Webb to continue to expand our understanding of everything in the universe.<\/p>\n Want more? Take a tour<\/a> to the image, \u201cfly through\u201d it in a visualization<\/a>, and compare<\/a> Webb\u2019s image to the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s.<\/p>\n Arp 142 lies 326 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra.<\/p>\nImage A: Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (NIRCam and MIRI)<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Let\u2019s Dance!<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Image B: Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (MIRI Only)<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>Video: Tour the Arp 142 Image<\/h2>\n