Hey, have you heard the latest from NASA? They just celebrated the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) second science anniversary by releasing an incredible photo of two galaxies, called the Penguin and the Egg! These galaxies, also known as Arp 142, have been interacting for tens of millions of years and will eventually merge into one.
The photo, taken in near- and mid-infrared, shows these galaxies in amazing detail. The Penguin galaxy, which used to be a spiral galaxy, now looks like an eye with outstretched arms forming a beak and tail. The Egg galaxy, on the other hand, is packed with old stars and maintains its compact form. This interaction between the galaxies has been going on for 25-75 million years and will continue for millions more!
It’s not just these two galaxies in the picture—there’s also another galaxy, PGC 1237172, which is much closer to us and filled with bright blue stars. The JWST’s incredible resolution captures thousands of distant galaxies in the background, giving us a breathtaking view of the universe.
Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator, mentioned how the JWST has been consistently revealing the universe's mysteries since its first image was shown two years ago. Mark Clampin, the director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division, highlighted how the telescope’s advanced capabilities have revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos.
Isn’t it mind-blowing how far we’ve come in exploring the universe? The JWST truly is a marvel of modern science!
