Researchers created an image of Phantom Galaxy M74 using data from the Hubble telescope and the Webb telescope, an image provided by the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to provide a comprehensive view of the are complementary to the other.
M74 is a special class of spiral galaxy known as the ‘Grand Design Spiral’ because it has two clearly defined spiral arms, like the Milky Way, with its arms radiating outwards. Its spiral arms are prominent and well defined, and are in contrast to the patchy and ragged structure seen in some spiral galaxies.
Taken by Webb’s sharp vision, the image of M74 reveals delicate filaments of gas and dust in M74’s gorgeous spiral arms, which wind out through the center of the image, The nuclear region of the galaxy’s center lacking gas provides a vague view of the nuclear star cluster. Researchers looked into M74 with Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to gain insight into what were the early stages of star formation in the local universe.
These observations by Webb are part of a larger effort by the international PHANGS collaboration to chart 19 nearby star-forming galaxies in the infrared. Researchers combine crystal-clear Webb observations at longer wavelengths, so that the explorer can pinpoint star-forming regions in galaxies, and accurately measure the age of the mass of star clusters, and the tiny specks of dust flowing into interstellar space, To allow us to gain insight into the nature of grains.
Researchers reveal bright regions of star formation from M74’s Hubble observations, known as HII regions, Hubble’s sharp vision complements Webb’s unique sensitivity at the infrared wavelengths ultraviolet and Hubble’s sharp vision at visible wavelengths, Because the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array makes observations with ground-based radio telescopes such as ALMA.
