"James Webb Telescope's Mesmerizing View of the Whirlpool Galaxy"
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the Whirlpool galaxy, also known as M51 or NGC 5194, located 27 million light-years away from Earth. The image reveals the intricate spiral arms of the galaxy, which are believed to be influenced by its nearby dwarf galaxy companion, NGC 5195. The telescope used its infrared instruments to capture the image, showcasing warm filamentary dust and ionized gas in vibrant colors. The composite image combines data from the Near-Infrared Camera and the Mid-Infrared Instrument, providing a detailed view of the galactic structure. This observation is part of a series aimed at studying the interplay between stellar feedback and star formation in extragalactic environments.
