Webb telescope observes 19 nearby face-on spiral galaxies: Check out these highly detailed images

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has released highly detailed images of 19 nearby face-on spiral galaxies observed as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) program.

Webb's observations combine near- and mid-infrared light. The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) onboard the telescope captured millions of stars which sparkle in blue tones. The data captured by the Mid-Infrared Instrument highlights glowing dust, showing us where it exists around and between stars.

For the first time, Webb's images show large, spherical shells in the gas and dust in such exquisite detail. Stars that exploded and carved out giant regions in the interstellar material may have created these holes.

Another striking feature observed in Webb's images is that several galaxy cores are awash in pink-and-red diffraction spikes - a clear indication that these galaxies may have central active supermassive black holes or central star clusters.

"Webb's new images are extraordinary. They're mind-blowing even for researchers who have studied these same galaxies for decades. Bubbles and filaments are resolved down to the smallest scales ever observed, and tell a story about the star formation cycle," said Janice Lee, a project scientist for strategic initiatives at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore.

Go on, give these a whirl.Webb just released highly detailed images of 19 spiral galaxies! These observations add new near and mid-infrared puzzle pieces to the PHANGS program, a worldwide astronomy project: https://t.co/TBNbkzUJ7p pic.twitter.com/ioYKrQPW6W

— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) January 29, 2024