Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 1365 from Webb
Explanation:
A mere
56 million light-years distant toward the
southern constellation Fornax,
NGC 1365
is an enormous
barred spiral galaxy about 200,000 light-years in diameter.
That's twice the size of our own barred spiral Milky Way.
This
sharp image
from the
James Webb Space Telescope's
Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)
reveals
stunning details
of this magnificent spiral
in
infrared light.
Webb's
field
of view
stretches about 60,000 light-years
across NGC 1365, exploring the galaxy's core and bright newborn star
clusters.
The intricate network of dusty filaments and bubbles is
created by young stars along spiral arms winding from the
galaxy's central bar.
Astronomers suspect
the gravity field of NGC 1365's bar plays
a crucial role in the galaxy's evolution,
funneling gas and dust into a
star-forming
maelstrom
and ultimately feeding material
into the active galaxy's central,
supermassive black hole.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
