NASA marks James Webb Space Telescope’s second anniversary with galaxy images

The Penguin and the Egg galaxies are together referred to as Arp 142.

July 13, 2024 05:21 AM IST

3 min read

Scientists say the neighboring galaxies, nicknamed Penguin, right, and the Egg, left, have been tangled up for tens of millions of years. (Photo: NASA and Space Telescope Science Institute via AP)

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) celebrated its second science anniversary on July 12, 2024, with a stunning photo of two galaxies known as the Penguin (NGC 2936) and the Egg (NGC 2937). These galaxies are together referred to as Arp 142.

The galaxies were captured in near- and mid-infrared photos, situated about 326 million light-years far in the Hydra constellation.

The continuous interaction between these galaxies, which began 25–75 million years ago, was revealed by the JWST. This cosmic dance will persist for millions of years until the Penguin and the Egg merge into a single galaxy.

Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, said, “Since President Biden and Vice President Harris revealed the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope two years ago, Webb has consistently revealed the universe’s mysteries.”

Future scientists and explorers are inspired by the telescope’s complex capabilities. The director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division, Mark Clampin, highlighted how the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revolutionized our knowledge of the cosmos.

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JWST’s studies combine near- and mid-infrared light to show the interaction of the galaxies, revealing a mixture of stars and gas whirling between them.

The Penguin, which was once a spiral galaxy and now resembles an eye with outstretched arms that create a beak and tail. On the other hand, the elliptical galaxy Egg, which is packed with old stars, keeps its compact form, indicating that the mechanics of star creation in the Egg are different from those in the Penguin.

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Another galaxy, PGC 1237172, which is 100 million light-years closer to Earth and is known for its youthful appearance with bright blue stars, is also captured in the picture. With thousands of distant galaxies visible in the background, JWST’s excellent resolution highlights its critical role in expanding our understanding of the universe.

JWST, the Hubble Space Telescope’s replacement, can now see farther into the history of the cosmos because of its novel multiple mirror design, which increases light collection capabilities.

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