M51 (MIRI image)
Ripple effect 🌀
Seen here by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is the galaxy M51, also known as NGC 5194. The gravity of its neighbor, the dwarf galaxy NGC 5195, is thought to be partially responsible for those prominent & distinct spiral arms! While MIRI brings out the web-like structure of the dust in the galaxy, NIRCam focuses more on ionized gas from newly formed star clusters. More: esawebb.org/images/potm2308c/
Slide between the two views here: esawebb.org/images/comparisons/potm2308/
View NIRCam image: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/53151185919/in/ph...
View MIRI/NIRCam composite: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/53151475103/in/da...
Image description: Webb's mid-infrared view of galaxy M51. A large spiral galaxy takes up the entirety of the image. The core is mostly bright white, but there are also swirling, detailed structures that resemble water circling a drain. There is white and pale blue light that emanates from stars and dust at the core’s center, but it is tightly limited to the core. The detailed rings feature bands of deep orange and cloudy gray, which are interspersed by darker empty regions throughout.
M51 (MIRI image)
Ripple effect 🌀
Seen here by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is the galaxy M51, also known as NGC 5194. The gravity of its neighbor, the dwarf galaxy NGC 5195, is thought to be partially responsible for those prominent & distinct spiral arms! While MIRI brings out the web-like structure of the dust in the galaxy, NIRCam focuses more on ionized gas from newly formed star clusters. More: esawebb.org/images/potm2308c/
Slide between the two views here: esawebb.org/images/comparisons/potm2308/
View NIRCam image: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/53151185919/in/ph...
View MIRI/NIRCam composite: www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/53151475103/in/da...
Image description: Webb's mid-infrared view of galaxy M51. A large spiral galaxy takes up the entirety of the image. The core is mostly bright white, but there are also swirling, detailed structures that resemble water circling a drain. There is white and pale blue light that emanates from stars and dust at the core’s center, but it is tightly limited to the core. The detailed rings feature bands of deep orange and cloudy gray, which are interspersed by darker empty regions throughout.