NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) this week unveiled images of 19 spiral galaxies, some of which are located 60 million light-years away. A new technological breakthrough was achieved thanks to the James Webb Telescope.
Spinning in space. NASA and the European Space Agency, ESA, this week unveiled highly detailed images taken by the James Webb Telescope. Taken this Thursday, February 1, by CNN, they show 19 spiral galaxies and the millions of stars that make up these systems.
“These observations can help astronomers better understand the formation of stars and the evolution of spiral galaxies like ours”, explains the Milky Way, American media.
Very young stars
On its website, NASA explains that MIRI (mid-infrared instrument) data highlights stars that have not yet formed, still encased in gas and dust.
“The most recent stars” are found at the ends of dusty ridges, underlines Eric Rosolovsky, professor of physics at the University of Alberta in Edmonton (Canada).
These galaxies are located millions of light-years away from the Milky Way and were observed in infrared light as part of the “Fangs” program involving more than 150 astronomers.
According to NASA, the James Webb Telescope has enough fuel to operate for 20 years. Researchers from around the world can reserve observing time with the telescope, whose schedule has been carefully developed in one-year increments.
Since it was in operation, dozens of impressive images have been captured: sand showers on the “cotton candy” planet, the birth of about fifty stars, and numerous nebulae and other galaxies. .
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