Webb and Hubble Comparison of MACS 0647

This animation compares the 2022 James Webb Space Telescope images of galaxy cluster MACS0647 and the very distant galaxy MACS0647-JD with 2012 Hubble Space Telescope images of the same objects. In both the Webb and Hubble pictures, the cluster appears as a sea of galaxies on a black background. Both images are punctuated by a few foreground stars. Unlike the galaxies, the stars are identified by their prominent spikes, which are caused by diffracted light. The animation blinks back and forth between the Webb and Hubble images.

In both the Webb and Hubble views, the massive galaxy cluster MACS0647 is pictured on the left side of the screen. Also in both views, three small boxes outlined in white borders mark the locations of the three images of galaxy MACS0647-JD. These boxes are numbered 1, 2, and 3. If the galaxy cluster were a clock face, Image 1 of MACS0647-JD would be at about the 7 o’clock position, Image 2 would be between the 6 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions, and Image 3 would be at the 11 o’clock position. Also in both the Webb and Hubble images, three boxes, each featuring an image of MACS0647-JD, appear in a column going down the right side of the screen. These images are labeled JD 1, JD 2, and JD 3.

The Webb images reveals far more detail than the corresponding Hubble images. In the MACS0647 galaxy cluster, Webb detects many more galaxies than Hubble. Most notably, the three images of MACS0647-JD from Webb show two, distinct features that are differently colored, with the larger area appearing redder and the smaller one appearing bluer. In comparison, the Hubble images show only a single, pale, red, pixelated dot.

Note: This video depicts data from Webb science in progress, which has not yet been through the peer-review process.

[Video Description: Animation blinks between the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope images of galaxy cluster MACS0647 and the very distant galaxy MACS0647-JD. In both views, the cluster appears as a sea of galaxies on a black background. In the MACS0647 galaxy cluster, Webb detects many more galaxies than Hubble.]