The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) still surprises us. Its new photo of the Sombrero Galaxy gives new insights. The galaxy, discovered 244 years ago, has secrets scientists are still trying to unravel. JWST's high-powered cameras now reveal more than ever.
Viewing the Galaxy in New Light
Galaxies consist of stars, gas, and dust. All contribute to how galaxies develop and evolve. But the three need different kinds of light. JWST shines here, gathering infrared light that other telescopes can't. In December 2024, JWST employed its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) camera.
This uncovered the galaxy's smooth inner disc and glowing dust. Now, with the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), JWST illuminates stars that are obscured by that dust. The new image uncovers glowing clouds of interstellar material and red giant stars. Blue stars, which emit primarily in visible light, are less evident in these pictures. This new perspective provides a richer understanding of the composition of the galaxy.
A Galaxy with a Turbulent Past
The Sombrero Galaxy boasts a twisted inner disc and approximately 2,000 globular clusters. These old clusters of stars rotate around the galaxy's halo and possess distinctive chemical signatures. Their variations suggest a bumpy history for the Sombrero. Astronomers think it collided with smaller galaxies millions of years ago.
It doesn't quite fit into spiral or elliptical forms like most galaxies. Rather, the Sombrero galaxy is defined as peculiar, with its edge-on orientation and a bright central bulge. This latest information from JWST adds more information to a cosmic puzzle first recorded centuries ago. Ongoing observations of this galaxy inform us about how galaxies change over time.
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