Some 220 million light-years away, nestled within the constellation Pegasus, spiral galaxy NGC 7469 whirls round an lively galactic nucleus (AGN). It is one of many extra well-studied galaxies in our universe, however the James Webb Space Telescope has simply produced probably the most detailed photographs of the wreath-shaped galaxy ever seen.
As a result of NGC 7469 faces us head-on, astronomers can observe its total 90,000-light-year span. Of specific curiosity is its AGN, the brilliant area at its middle the place dust and gasoline gentle up as they’re consumed by the galaxy’s supermassive black hole. The construction is not unusual, however what’s uncommon is that NGC 7469 has a starburst ring simply 1,500 light-years from the AGN — an exceptionally shut distance.
Since there may be a lot materials packed into a comparatively small space, it has been troublesome for scientists to look into the AGN and its surrounding starburst. However that has now modified with Webb’s ultra-sensitive infrared imaging devices.
Associated: James Webb Space Telescope’s best images of all time (gallery)
This picture has captured new particulars inside NGC 7469’s AGN, together with “very younger star-forming clusters by no means seen earlier than, in addition to pockets of very heat, turbulent molecular gasoline, and direct proof for the destruction of small dust grains inside a couple of hundred light-years of the nucleus,” based on a statement (opens in new tab) from the European House Company (ESA), a companion on the observatory.
On this picture, Webb has additionally captured ionized atomic gasoline emissions from the nucleus which might be touring at some 4 million mph (6.4 million kph). Whereas scientists already knew in regards to the galactic outflow, this picture marks the primary time they have been capable of see it in such crisp element.
And, by the way in which, that six-pointed starburst that seems to emanate from the middle of the galaxy? That does not technically exist. It is what scientists name an imaging artifact, and extra particularly, a diffraction spike — a sample that is created on the picture when gentle bends across the edges of telescopes. Webb photos are characterised by their six-pointed diffraction spikes, a signature of the observatory’s hexagonal mirror.
Scientists hope to make use of photos like these to check the connection between AGNs and starburst exercise.
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