NASA/ESA/CSA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured new images of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559.
This Webb image shows barred spiral galaxy NGC 1559, located approximately 32 million light-years away in the constellation Reticulata. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / Webb / A. Leroy / J. Lee / PHANGS Team.
NGC 1559 is situated about 32 million light-years away in the southern constellation Rechi.
Also known as LEDA 14814, ESO 84-10, and IRAS 04170-6253, this galaxy was first observed in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop.
NGC 1559 features extensive spiral arms filled with star formation and is receding from us at a speed of approximately 1,300 km/s.
It has a mass of around 10 billion solar masses, which may seem substantial, but it’s almost 100 times less than the mass of our Milky Way galaxy.
“NGC 1559 exhibits a massive spiral arm of active star formation moving away from us at 1,300 kilometers per second,” explained the Webb astronomers.
“Although NGC 1559 appears to be close to the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the nearest clouds in the sky, this is merely a perspective illusion.”
“In reality, NGC 1559 is not physically near the Large Magellanic Cloud in space. It is actually isolated, lacking any nearby galactic companions or members of galaxy clusters.”
Images of NGC 1559 are composed of data from Webb’s two instruments: Mid-infrared measuring instrument (Miri) and near infrared camera (NIRCam).
“MIRI captures the glow of interstellar dust particles that trace the interstellar medium fueling future star formation,” the astronomers elaborated.
“NIRCam reflects starlight and reveals young stars hidden behind vast amounts of dust.”
“This instrument also detects emission from ionizing nebulae around young stars.”
The image of NGC 1559 was taken by the PHANGS team as part of Webb’s observation of 55 galaxies using instruments such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
“By combining Webb’s unique view of dust and stars with data from these other facilities, we can delve into the detailed processes of star birth, life, and death in galaxies across the universe. Our goal is to gain new insights into this phenomenon,” stated the researchers.
“This program is also part of a Treasury Department initiative, allowing immediate access to the data for the scientific community and the general public,” they added.
“This enables us to conduct more research at a faster pace.”
Source: www.sci.news
