NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI/Judy Schmidt/PHANGS Things have been pretty quiet since NASA released the first incredible images from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). A few weeks later some amazing images of the Cartwheel Galaxy were published and, this week, some beautiful images of Jupiter. However, for those expecting a flurry of incredible JWST images on a daily basis from NASA, it’s been a waiting game. There is a way to see the latest JWST images. There are a number of astrophotographers on Twitter and Flickr editing and posting some amazing images from the latest JWST observations. Raw image data is available from the MAST portal, although processing it requires considerable skill. MORE FROM FORBESWebb Telescope Turns Up Stunning New Infrared Images of Jupiter By Jamie Carter So while we wait for NASA to send over more official images, here are some that have made it to social media—largely from astrophotographer Judy Schmidt who works on the Long-Term Physics at High Angular Resolution in Nearby Galaxies (PHANGS) study of stars and gas in spiral galaxies using several different telescopes. He recently posted some fascinating images of the Phantom Galaxy as seen from JWST and has since uploaded some absolute gems:
1. Dust in the ‘Great Barred Spiral Galaxy’
The incredible new image (main image at the top of this article) is the result of JWST’s ability to record in infrared, which allows it to see through gas and dust. Also known as NGC 1356, this dusty double-barred spiral galaxy exists about 56 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax. “It’s interesting that the dust bar isn’t as obvious as it is in visible light,” Schmidt told Flickr. “At the center is an average active galactic nucleus (AGN). The circular nuclear dust is also quite impressive.’ Image captured by JWST’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), a camera and spectrograph that sees light in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
2. A close-up of the center of the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy
This close-up of NGC 1365, tweeted by Schmidt (above), shows its core. Recorded by JWST’s NIRCam (Near Infrared Camera), whose job is to detect light from the first stars and galaxies. IC 5332 as seen by JWST and post-edited by Judy Schmidt. NASA / ESA / CSA / Judy Schmidt
3. IC 5332 spiral galaxy
Another example of how JWST’s MIRI camera produces wide-field astrophotography images better than Hubble is IC 5332 (above), a spiral galaxy about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor. Galaxy NGC 7496 as imaged by JWST and processed by Judy Schmidt. NASA / ESA / CSA / Judy Schmidt
4. NGC 7496 barred spiral galaxy
Another barred spiral galaxy captured using MIRI, this new image (above) of NGC 7496 shows a bright active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is over 24 million light years away in the constellation of Grus. Here’s the Hubble Space Telescope’s view of this beautiful symmetrical galaxy from the same PHANGS survey.
5. Galactic IC 1623B
This image (above) created by Roberto Colombari from data from JWST’s NIRCam instrument shows IC 1623B, an interacting pair in the constellation Cetus. It is 250 light years away. Like many distant galaxies, IC 1623 is very bright when observed in the infrared, which is why JWST is proving such a boon to astronomers. During its initial 10-year mission, JWST will study the solar system, directly image exoplanets, photograph the first galaxies and explore the mysteries of the origin of the Universe. I wish you clear skies and open eyes.
