The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unveiled a new image that reveals the hidden violence behind a serene-looking galaxy. The picture captures a beautiful orange-red spiral galaxy called NGC 3256, which is located approximately 120 million light-years away from Earth and is a part of the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster.
However, this seemingly peaceful galaxy tells a different story. The image shows long tendrils of shining dust and stars extending from the main body of NGC 3256, hinting at the chaotic past it has endured. These tendrils are remnants of a massive collision that occurred about 500 million years ago between two earlier galaxies, leaving behind a trail of destruction.
Studying collisions like the one that created NGC 3256 provides valuable insights for astronomers in understanding how galaxies, including our very own Milky Way, grow. By merging with other galaxies, our galaxy expands and develops. Additionally, studying such wreckage can help unravel the mystery of how supermassive black holes at the cores of galaxies grow to such enormous sizes – millions or even billions of times the mass of the sun.
The merger event that formed NGC 3256 also triggered an intense burst of star formation. When galaxies collide, they bring together gas and dust, which then condenses to form dense clouds, providing the raw materials necessary for the birth of new stars. The brightest regions within NGC 3256’s glow are the result of young stars radiating infrared light, causing the galaxy to shine brightly. This glow makes NGC 3256 an ideal target for the JWST, which is designed specifically to observe the universe in infrared.
While most stars manage to escape unscathed from galactic collisions, the same cannot be said for the gas and dust content within galaxies. In the image captured by the JWST, threads of stars torn away from their home galaxies are visible due to the gravitational interactions between the colliding galaxies, resulting in immense tidal forces.
The stunning image of NGC 3256 was created using data from the JWST’s Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). This visual representation showcases the power and capabilities of the JWST, which is the most advanced telescope ever deployed in orbit around Earth. It plays a crucial role in deepening our understanding of galactic growth and the evolution of the universe.
With its ability to capture breathtaking images like this, the JWST continues to provide invaluable information about the universe we inhabit. As scientists delve into the secrets hidden within these cosmic collisions, we come one step closer to unraveling the mysteries of our vast universe.
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