“Stunning Composite Images of Universe Revealed by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope”

Technique

by Andrew Wolfick, Weather Fox

28 Mei 2023 | 09:35

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope have teamed up to produce a stunning composite image of the universe.

That The space agency recently released the images It combines X-ray and infrared data to detect things invisible to humans.

The four combined images show galaxies, nebulae and star clusters several light years away.

One of these composite images of the star cluster known as NGC 346, located in the Small Magellanic Cloud.

The cluster is about 200,000 light years from Earth, and researchers believe the images reveal pillars and arcs of gas and dust, which serve as the building blocks of stars and planets.

Messier 16, also known as the Eagle Nebula, forms another composite image.

The image shows X-rays in red and blue, while infrared data is shown in red, green and blue.

Together, the screens depict what researchers say are dark clumps of gas and dust from stars in their early stages of formation.

Astronomers often refer to this region as the “Pillars of Creation”, because it is home to many young stars.

The James Webb Space Telescope and Observatory has also created a detailed view of the galaxy similar to our own Milky Way.

Messier 74 is about 32 million light years away, but is usually too dark to see with ordinary telescopes.

As the infrared image increases, gas and dust become clear, and the wavelength of the X-rays helps in imaging high-energy activity.

The latest stunning composite image is of NGC 1672, a spiral galaxy.

Observatory data reveals dense bodies such as neutron stars or black holes, along with supernova remnants.

Telescope data reveals dust and gas within the galaxy’s arms.

The James Webb Space Telescope launched in late 2021 and only became operational last year.

Telescopes observe the distant universe and help find the dimmest celestial bodies.

NASA believes that the telescope’s operation has exceeded expectations, and the space observatory can easily exceed its 10-year life expectancy.