About the Object

Constellation: Sculptor
Category: Galaxies
MIRI
Picture of the Month

Coordinates

Position (RA):23 34 27.42
Position (Dec):-36° 5' 59.51"
Field of view:2.55 x 2.12 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 91.7° left of vertical



Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared7.7 μmJames Webb Space Telescope
MIRI
Infrared10 μmJames Webb Space Telescope
MIRI
Infrared11 μmJames Webb Space Telescope
MIRI
Infrared21 μmJames Webb Space Telescope
MIRI

Webb Reveals Complex Galactic Structures

This image from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope shows IC 5332, a spiral galaxy, in unprecedented detail thanks to observations from the Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI). Its symmetrical spiral arms, which appear so clearly in Hubble’s ultraviolet and visible-light image of IC 5332, are revealed as a complex web of gas, emitting infrared light at a variety of temperatures. Capturing light at these wavelengths requires very specialised instruments kept at very cold temperatures, and MIRI performs spectacularly at the task.

IC 5332 lies over 29 million light-years from Earth, and has a diameter of roughly 66 000 light-years, making it about a third smaller than the Milky Way. It is notable for being almost perfectly face-on with respect to Earth, allowing us to admire the symmetrical sweep of its spiral arms.

Links

Credit:

ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST and PHANGS-HST Teams

About the Image

Id: potm2209a
Type: Observation
Release date: 27 September 2022, 06:00
Size: 1378 x 1147 px


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