First batch of James Webb Space Telescope images and data released by NASA
A new era of astronomy has begun.
NASA on Tuesday released a full batch of images and data from the James Webb Space Telescope, providing a tantalizing first look at the cosmic mysteries that could be untangled in the years ahead by humanity's largest and most powerful space observatory.
Among the newly released images are breathtaking views of a distant group of five galaxies called Stephan's Quintet, never-before-seen features of the Carina Nebula speckled with dazzling stars and towering "cliffs" of gas, and exquisite new details of the Southern Ring Nebula, a huge expanding shell of gas around a dying star.
"Every image is a new discovery and each will give humanity a view of the universe that we've never seen before," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during an event held at the Goddard Space Flight Center to introduce the images.
The image of Stephan's Quintet included some unexpected surprises, according to NASA, including huge shock waves as one of the galaxies smashes through the cluster. Researchers also detected the telltale signs of an active supermassive black hole in the topmost galaxy — distinguishable only by material swirling around the cosmic behemoth.
The enormous mosaic, characterized by intense starbust regions and delicate-looking wisps of gas and dust, will help scientists study how galaxies interact and merge with one another.
The Webb telescope's view of the Carina Nebula shows a young, star-forming region called NGC 3324. The observatory's instruments are so powerful that stellar nurseries and individual stars can be seen that were previously obscured, NASA officials said.
Pillars of gas create a dramatic landscape in the image, with ultraviolet radiation from newborn stars carving out features known as "Cosmic Cliffs."
The Webb telescope also spied the last "performance" of a dying star located more than 2,000 light-years away. The observatory's image of the Southern Ring Nebula shows rings of gas and dust expelled by a star in the final throes of its life.
The Webb telescope also spied the last "performance" of a dying star located more than 2,000 light-years away. The observatory's image of the Southern Ring Nebula shows rings of gas and dust expelled by a star in the final throes of its life.
Webb's infrared instruments brought the nebula's second star into sharp focus, revealing it to be dimmer and cloaked in dust. Scientists said these types of observations will help them better understand the life cycle of stars, including how dying stars shape and transform their environment.
Webb's infrared instruments brought the nebula's second star into sharp focus, revealing it to be dimmer and cloaked in dust. Scientists said these types of observations will help them better understand the life cycle of stars, including how dying stars shape and transform their environment.