On Friday, July 12, NASA shared a mesmerising image of two merging glowing galaxies in space captured by the James Webb Telescope. The galaxies are NGC 2936 also known as The Penguin and the other one is NGC 2937 or Egg Galaxy which is an elliptical galaxy.
These galaxies both together referred to as Arp 142, are shown in the images doing a cosmic dance while merging into each other, connected by a haze of stars and gas as they slowly merge. The location of these galaxies is 326 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said about this cosmic event that “Since President Biden and Vice President Harris unveiled the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope two years ago, Webb has continued to unlock the mysteries of the universe,” He further added, “With remarkable images from the corners of the cosmos, going back nearly to the beginning of time, Webb’s capabilities are shedding new light on our celestial surroundings and inspiring future generations of scientists, astronomers, and explorers.” According to NASA.
The Webb telescope has the capability to capture infrared light objects such as these two galaxies captured during the cosmic dance. Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), both have captured this wonder by displaying great details of the event while it takes place.
The galaxies went through several interactions to be in the present formation of entanglement, there were ongoing interactions between 25 and 75 million years ago when the Penguin (NGC 2936) and the Egg (NGC 2937) completed their first pass.
The cosmic dance formation happened due to the gravitational force that pulled them together drawing them nearer resulting in the distortion of their shapes, creating striking visual structures resembling a penguin and an egg, hence their nicknames.
The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on December 25, 2021, and released its first set of observations on July 12, 2022. Since its deployment, it has been capturing images in the infrared spectrum, revealing wavelengths that are not visible to the human eye.
The James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful telescope ever deployed in space, has made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe.
It has detected some of the earliest known galaxies, providing a glimpse into the universe's infancy. It has also provided valuable insights into the composition of exoplanets and improved our knowledge of star-forming regions.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
