James Webb Captures the Most Detailed Image of the Cartwheel Galaxy
Discover the stunning new infrared image of the Cartwheel Galaxy captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, revealing unprecedented details and companion galaxies.
Located approximately 500 million light-years away, the Cartwheel Galaxy is an extraordinary celestial object.
NASA has released an incredible image of the lens-shaped and ringed Cartwheel Galaxy (ESO 350–40), captured using the powerful infrared capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope. This advanced telescope also revealed two smaller companion galaxies alongside the main structure.
The Cartwheel Galaxy, situated in the Sculptor constellation, visually resembles a wagon wheel. This unique shape results from a high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller, unseen galaxy, which triggered the galaxy's distinctive rings.
Astronomers highlight that the Cartwheel Galaxy features two prominent rings: a bright inner ring and a colorful outer ring. Both rings expand outward from the collision's center, resembling ripples spreading across water after a stone is thrown. Due to these distinctive characteristics, the Cartwheel is classified as a ring galaxy—a rarer structure compared to spiral galaxies like our Milky Way.
Previous telescopes have studied the Cartwheel Galaxy, but it remained shrouded in mystery, partly due to the vast amounts of dust obscuring its view. Thanks to James Webb's ability to detect infrared light, scientists are gaining new insights into the galaxy's nature and structure.
For comparison, the image above shows the Cartwheel Galaxy as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope.
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