James Webb Space Telescope -Captures Amazing View Of Galactic Fusion

Space.com

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured imagery of interacting elliptical and spiral galaxies known as Arp 107.  Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Danielle Kirshenblat (STScI)

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00:00ARP 107 is located 465 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Leo Minor.

00:08This image captures a scene that stretches approximately 400,000 light-years across.

00:14The spiral galaxy is about six times more massive than its elliptical companion.

00:20In ARP 107, two galaxies are caught in the early stages of a merger.

00:25On the left, a smaller elliptical galaxy contrasts with the larger spiral galaxy on the right.

00:32Their interaction stems from an off-center collision where the smaller galaxy collided with the spiral

00:37from the side several hundred million years ago.

00:42These two bright regions host ongoing star formation.

00:46Galaxy collisions can trigger the formation of new stars when interstellar gases get compressed.

00:52The spiral galaxy in ARP 107 has an exceptionally bright core.

00:57This brightness is caused in part by the supermassive black hole at its center, which consumes surrounding

01:04material like gas and dust.

01:07As this material falls inward, it heats up and emits a tremendous amount of energy, making

01:12the galaxy's core shine brilliantly.

01:16In longer wavelengths, we can observe this bright point source, a clear indication of the black

01:21hole's activity as it accretes material.

01:24A tenuous bridge stretches between the two galaxies, composed of a mix of stars and gas,

01:30a result of their interaction.

01:32This stream of material was pulled from both galaxies as they interacted, creating a visible

01:38link that underscores the intensity of their encounter.

01:42This new image from the Webb Space Telescope combines near-infrared and mid-infrared light,

01:48but each wavelength was also captured separately.

01:51The mid-infrared view highlights the spiral galaxy's bright nucleus, while the bridge of material

01:57connecting the galaxies disappears in the mid-infrared, demonstrating how each wavelength offers unique

02:04insights into the structure of ARP 107.

02:08The ARP 107 is compelling because it showcases the dramatic effects of galactic interaction,

02:14with a distorted spiral galaxy connected by a bridge of material to another galaxy, providing

02:20insights into the processes that drive galaxy evolution.

02:24But what is it that astronomers love most about this image?

02:29It looks like a smiley face.

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