The cutting-edge, $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) shared its debut image with the world on July 12, 2022, peering deeper into the universe than any telescope before it. Since then, JWST has captured the mystery and beauty of the cosmos in image after dazzling image, captivating curious Earthlings everywhere. Here are 19 of the telescope’s finest observations.
The Pillars of Creation
The towering pillars of creation – a vast span of sculptured gas and dust located about 6,500 light-years from Earth in the Eagle Nebula – have been a famous Milky Way landmark since the Hubble Space Telescope observed them in 1995. JWST’s shimmering portrait of the iconic structures could help scientists uncover new insights into how stars are born, and how they shape the space around them.
Webb’s deep field
JWST’s debut image is also the deepest and most detailed image of the universe ever taken. At the dazzling, jewel-filled image’s center, a bright cluster of galaxies magnifies the light of stars more than 13 billion light-years away, while thousands of younger galaxies cartwheel through the background.
The ‘Phantom Galaxy’
Like a celestial nautilus shell, the eerie ‘Phantom Galaxy‘ swirls through space about 32 million light-years from Earth. Scientists call it a “grand design spiral,” due to how prominent and well-defined the galaxy’s spiral arms are.
‘Mountains’ of the Carina Nebula
One of JWST’s debut images was this cosmic landscape painting of the Carina Nebula, located about 7,600 light-years from Earth. Lit up and sculpted by the radiation of baby stars, this is one of the most active star-forming regions ever discovered.
Stephan’s quintet
Stephan’s Quintet, a group of five tightly-bound galaxies located 290 million light-years away in the Pegasus constellation, is what happens when one part of space gets too crowded. Four of the tight-knit galaxies continuously swoop past one another in a dangerous dance of near-collisions, slowly warping and stretching the stars between them.
The Southern Ring nebula
Also called the “Eight-Burst…
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