Discover the cosmosEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Explanation:Sometimes where Hubblefinds darkness, Webbsees light.
An example is today’s composite images ofMessier 64, a nearbyspiral galaxyof many names.
The dark band ofdustpartially blocking its bright core earned it the moniker “the Black Eye Galaxy.” Webb’sMid-InfraRed Instrument sees that dust, shown in red, as it absorbs and re-emits light from surrounding newborn stars.
These young stars are embedded in pink star-forming regions in the Hubble-only image.
M64’s inner and outer gas regionscounter-rotate, creating regions of increased star formation where the two gas “currents” meet and compress.
A merger between M64 and a smaller galaxy was likely the cause of the opposing motion of the outer gas.
Spiral galaxies were once thought to have peaceful histories.
M64 was key evidence that spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way, can and do experience mergers.
Webb’s view of M64 will tell astronomers about the structure, motion, and composition of the galaxy’s dust and add context to the galaxy’s merger history and evolution.
APOD’s main NASA site ismoving:Fromapod.nasa.govtoscience.nasa.gov/apod Tomorrow’s picture:treasure