Incredible new images of the spectacular Phantom galaxy, M74, show the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths. In this case, data from the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the galaxy. The Phantom Galaxy is located about 32 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. It is almost face to face with the Earth. This, combined with its well-defined spiral arms, makes it a favorite target for astronomers studying the origin and structure of galactic spirals. New images of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, show the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths. This video features the Hubble Space Telescope’s view of the galaxy, showing the largest, reddest stars towards the center, the youngest and bluest stars in its spiral arms, the most active star formation in the red bubbles of the H II regions. The James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, instead highlighting the masses of gas and dust in the galaxy’s arms and the dense cluster of stars in its core. The combined image of M74 merges these two for a truly unique look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy. M74 is a specific class of spiral galaxies known as a “large design spiral”. This means that its spiral arms are prominent and well-defined, in contrast to the patchy and rough structure seen in some spiral galaxies. Webb’s sharp vision revealed delicate filaments of gas and dust in M74’s majestic spiral arms, winding outward from the center of the image. The lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an unobstructed view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy. M74 shines at its brightest in this combined optical/mid-infrared image, with data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. With Hubble’s venerable Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s powerful Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) recording a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors mark dust passing through the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges are regions of hotter dust. Young stars in all arms and the core core are picked out in blue. The heavier, older stars toward the center of the galaxy appear blue and green, casting an eerie glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Star formation bubbles are also visible in pink on the arms. Such a variety of galactic features is rare to see in a single image. Scientists combine data from telescopes operating across the electromagnetic spectrum to truly understand astronomical objects. In this way, data from Hubble and Webb complement each other to provide a comprehensive view of the spectacular galaxy M74. Credits: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST team. ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Credits: J. Schmidt Webb looked at M74 using the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to learn more about the early stages of star formation in the local Universe. These observations are part of a larger effort to map 19 nearby star-forming galaxies in the infrared by the international PHANGS collaboration. These galaxies have already been observed using the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories. The addition of Webb’s crystal observations at longer wavelengths will allow astronomers to pinpoint star-forming regions in galaxies, precisely measure the masses and ages of star clusters, and gain insights into the nature of tiny dust grains drifting through interstellar space. This image from the James Webb Space Telescope shows the heart of M74, otherwise known as the Ghost Galaxy. Webb’s sharp vision revealed thin filaments of gas and dust in the majestic spiral arms that wind outward from the center of this image. The lack of gas in the nuclear region also provides an unobstructed view of the nuclear star cluster at the center of the galaxy. M74 is a particular class of spiral galaxy known as a “large spiral design”, meaning that its spiral arms are prominent and well-defined, in contrast to the patchy and ragged structure seen in some spiral galaxies. Hubble observations of M74 have revealed particularly bright star-forming regions known as HII regions. Hubble’s sharp vision in ultraviolet and visible wavelengths complements Webb’s unparalleled sensitivity in infrared wavelengths, as do observations from ground-based radio telescopes such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, ALMA. By combining data from telescopes operating across the electromagnetic spectrum, scientists can gain greater insight into astronomical objects than using a single observatory – even one as powerful as Webb! New images of the Phantom Galaxy, M74, demonstrate the power of space observatories working together at multiple wavelengths. At left, the Hubble Space Telescope view of the galaxy ranges from the oldest, reddest stars toward the center, to the youngest and bluest stars in its spiral arms, to the most active star formation in the red bubbles of the H II regions. On the right, the James Webb Space Telescope image is strikingly different, instead highlighting the masses of gas and dust in the galaxy’s arms and the dense cluster of stars at its core. The combined image in the center merges these two for a truly unique look at this “grand design” spiral galaxy. Credits: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST team. ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Chandar Credits: J. Schmidt

About Webb

The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s leading space science observatory. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, peer beyond distant worlds around other stars, and explore the mysterious structures and origins of our Universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners ESA and the Canadian Space Agency. ESA’s major contributions to the mission are: the NIRSpec instrument; the MIRI optical instrument bench assembly. the provision of launch services; and personnel to support mission operations. In return for these contributions, European scientists will receive a minimum share of 15% of the total observing time, as for the Hubble Space Telescope. M74 shines at its brightest in this combined optical/mid-infrared image, with data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. With Hubble’s venerable Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Webb’s powerful Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) recording a range of wavelengths, this new image has remarkable depth. Red colors mark dust passing through the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges are regions of hotter dust. Young stars in all arms and the core core are picked out in blue. The heavier, older stars toward the center of the galaxy appear blue and green, casting an eerie glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Star formation bubbles are also visible in pink on the arms. Such a variety of galactic features is rare to see in a single image. MIRI was contributed by ESA and NASA, with the instrument designed and built by a consortium of nationally funded European Institutes (the European MIRI Consortium) in collaboration with JPL and the University of Arizona.