A team of astronomers has used NASAâs James Webb Space Telescope to survey the starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82). Located 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, this galaxy is relatively compact in size but hosts a frenzy of star formation activity. For comparison, M82 is sprouting new stars 10 times faster than the Milky Way galaxy.
Led by Alberto Bolatto at the University of Maryland, College Park, the team directed Webbâs NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument toward the starburst galaxyâs center, attaining a closer look at the physical conditions that foster the formation of new stars.
âM82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy,â said Bolatto, lead author of the study. âBoth NASAâs Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have observed this target. With Webbâs size and resolution, we can look at this star-forming galaxy and see all of this beautiful, new detail.â
A Vibrant Community of Stars
Star formation continues to maintain a sense of mystery because it is shrouded by curtains of dust and gas, creating an obstacle in observing this process. Fortunately, Webbâs ability to peer in the infrared is an asset in navigating these murky conditions. Additionally, these NIRCam images of the very center of the starburst were obtained using an instrument mode that prevented the very bright source from overwhelming the detector.
While dark brown tendrils of heavy dust are threaded throughout M82âs glowing white core even in this infrared view, Webbâs NIRCam has revealed a level of detail that has historically been obscured. Looking closer toward the center, small specks depicted in green denote concentrated areas of iron, most of which are supernova remnants. Small patches that appear red signify regions where molecular hydrogen is being lit up by a nearby young starâs radiation.
âThis image shows the power of Webb,â said Rebecca Levy, second author of the study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. âEvery single white dot in this image is either a star or a star cluster. We can start to distinguish all of these tiny point sources, which enables us to acquire an accurate count of all the star clusters in this galaxy.â
Looking at M82 in slightly longer infrared wavelengths, clumpy tendrils represented in red can be seen extending above and below the galaxyâs plane. These gaseous streamers are a galactic wind rushing out from the core of the starburst.
One area of focus for this research team was understanding how this galactic wind, which is caused by the rapid rate of star formation and subsequent supernovae, is being launched and influencing its surrounding environment. By resolving a central section of M82, scientists could examine where the wind originates, and gain insight on how hot and cold components interact within the wind.
Webbâs NIRCam instrument was well-suited to trace the structure of the galactic wind via emission from sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs can be considered as very small dust grains that survive in cooler temperatures but are destroyed in hot conditions.
Much to the teamâs surprise, Webbâs view of the PAH emission highlights the galactic windâs fine structure â an aspect previously unknown. Depicted as red filaments, the emission extends away from the central region where the heart of star formation is located. Another unanticipated find was the similar structure between the PAH emission and that of hot, ionized gas.
âIt was unexpected to see the PAH emission resemble ionized gas,â said Bolatto. âPAHs are not supposed to live very long when exposed to such a strong radiation field, so perhaps they are being replenished all the time. It challenges our theories and shows us that further investigation is required.â
We can't be the only ones out here, surely.
Billions of stars, 11 million light years away and that's just one of many hundreds of billions more galaxies.
Agreed. I donât think people understand the enormity of space. It makes it both impossible to be alone, and almost nearly impossible for us to ever know.
On the converse, I think people also overestimate how small probabilities can be (and also have trouble grasping the concept of uncertainty).
It could be that the odds of life forming is on the order of the inverse of the number of planets in the observable universe.
But unfortunately we just don't have the data and need to accept that we simply don't know. We can't say it is more likely than not. We can't say it's unlikely. We can't say anything except that we don't know.
/s Anybody who thinks this way is a schizophrenic psycopath. We are at the peak of humanity and have all the answers today. If science hasn't detected anything then we are 100% alone. /s
What blows my mind is that each of those individual points of light are actual stars. Light-years apart from each other. With planets revolving around them. Incredible. We humans are so insignificantly small in the scope of the Universe - let alone our own galaxy that it truly boggles me.
is there any information on how long the observation was in order to get that image? Iâm always fascinated by JWSTâs power and its comparison to Hubble.
It is the compilation of 6 401.84 second exposures at different wavelength filters. Compared to Hubble that took much longer exposures but with the a much smaller mirror and less good equipment (NICMOS/NIC1-2).
I thought this was just another winter milky way shot, not one part of my mind thought that this would be the Cigar galaxy of all things and in SUCH DETAIL.
We have come so far as a species it's actually insane.
How far above the plane are we? Galaxies are a flat disc but not perfectly flat. Probably millions of stars scattered above and below.
Judging from this photo, our solar system is relatively equal with the plane right? What degree off are we?
I just cannot even comprehend the scale. Every dot in that picture is a star. Probably with planets. Those smudge looking galaxies have millions or billions of stars. Absolutely amazing photo thanks for sharing OP!
## WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT US, OP
#AHHHH LOUD NOISES
đ
Wake up babe, new JWST shots just dropped
A team of astronomers has used NASAâs James Webb Space Telescope to survey the starburst galaxy Messier 82 (M82). Located 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major, this galaxy is relatively compact in size but hosts a frenzy of star formation activity. For comparison, M82 is sprouting new stars 10 times faster than the Milky Way galaxy. Led by Alberto Bolatto at the University of Maryland, College Park, the team directed Webbâs NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument toward the starburst galaxyâs center, attaining a closer look at the physical conditions that foster the formation of new stars. âM82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy,â said Bolatto, lead author of the study. âBoth NASAâs Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have observed this target. With Webbâs size and resolution, we can look at this star-forming galaxy and see all of this beautiful, new detail.â A Vibrant Community of Stars Star formation continues to maintain a sense of mystery because it is shrouded by curtains of dust and gas, creating an obstacle in observing this process. Fortunately, Webbâs ability to peer in the infrared is an asset in navigating these murky conditions. Additionally, these NIRCam images of the very center of the starburst were obtained using an instrument mode that prevented the very bright source from overwhelming the detector. While dark brown tendrils of heavy dust are threaded throughout M82âs glowing white core even in this infrared view, Webbâs NIRCam has revealed a level of detail that has historically been obscured. Looking closer toward the center, small specks depicted in green denote concentrated areas of iron, most of which are supernova remnants. Small patches that appear red signify regions where molecular hydrogen is being lit up by a nearby young starâs radiation. âThis image shows the power of Webb,â said Rebecca Levy, second author of the study at the University of Arizona in Tucson. âEvery single white dot in this image is either a star or a star cluster. We can start to distinguish all of these tiny point sources, which enables us to acquire an accurate count of all the star clusters in this galaxy.â Looking at M82 in slightly longer infrared wavelengths, clumpy tendrils represented in red can be seen extending above and below the galaxyâs plane. These gaseous streamers are a galactic wind rushing out from the core of the starburst. One area of focus for this research team was understanding how this galactic wind, which is caused by the rapid rate of star formation and subsequent supernovae, is being launched and influencing its surrounding environment. By resolving a central section of M82, scientists could examine where the wind originates, and gain insight on how hot and cold components interact within the wind. Webbâs NIRCam instrument was well-suited to trace the structure of the galactic wind via emission from sooty chemical molecules known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs can be considered as very small dust grains that survive in cooler temperatures but are destroyed in hot conditions. Much to the teamâs surprise, Webbâs view of the PAH emission highlights the galactic windâs fine structure â an aspect previously unknown. Depicted as red filaments, the emission extends away from the central region where the heart of star formation is located. Another unanticipated find was the similar structure between the PAH emission and that of hot, ionized gas. âIt was unexpected to see the PAH emission resemble ionized gas,â said Bolatto. âPAHs are not supposed to live very long when exposed to such a strong radiation field, so perhaps they are being replenished all the time. It challenges our theories and shows us that further investigation is required.â
What a fun readâŚthanks for sharing!
The Earth was in the Miocene when that light began its journey
Do you have a link to the full resolution image?
https://flic.kr/p/2pGXBkJ
That's so cool, April Fools.
Thats way too fucking cool! It's like seahorse giving birth to the stars ^^^
Look at all that cool stuff we'll never get to explore
Weâre exploring it right now
"you can explore with your eyes not your hands"
You sound like my wife's boyfriend đ
Stars are better off without us.
We can't be the only ones out here, surely. Billions of stars, 11 million light years away and that's just one of many hundreds of billions more galaxies.
Agreed. I donât think people understand the enormity of space. It makes it both impossible to be alone, and almost nearly impossible for us to ever know.
On the converse, I think people also overestimate how small probabilities can be (and also have trouble grasping the concept of uncertainty). It could be that the odds of life forming is on the order of the inverse of the number of planets in the observable universe. But unfortunately we just don't have the data and need to accept that we simply don't know. We can't say it is more likely than not. We can't say it's unlikely. We can't say anything except that we don't know.
/s Anybody who thinks this way is a schizophrenic psycopath. We are at the peak of humanity and have all the answers today. If science hasn't detected anything then we are 100% alone. /s
*Enrico Fermi has entered the chat*
What blows my mind is that each of those individual points of light are actual stars. Light-years apart from each other. With planets revolving around them. Incredible. We humans are so insignificantly small in the scope of the Universe - let alone our own galaxy that it truly boggles me.
is there any information on how long the observation was in order to get that image? Iâm always fascinated by JWSTâs power and its comparison to Hubble.
It is the compilation of 6 401.84 second exposures at different wavelength filters. Compared to Hubble that took much longer exposures but with the a much smaller mirror and less good equipment (NICMOS/NIC1-2).
I thought this was just another winter milky way shot, not one part of my mind thought that this would be the Cigar galaxy of all things and in SUCH DETAIL. We have come so far as a species it's actually insane.
That's cool, but can you give me any details about the new album from M83?
How far above the plane are we? Galaxies are a flat disc but not perfectly flat. Probably millions of stars scattered above and below. Judging from this photo, our solar system is relatively equal with the plane right? What degree off are we?
Reminds me of an Apple background
I just cannot even comprehend the scale. Every dot in that picture is a star. Probably with planets. Those smudge looking galaxies have millions or billions of stars. Absolutely amazing photo thanks for sharing OP!