/ This panchromatic view of galaxy cluster MACS0416 was created by combining infrared observations from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope with visible-light data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Good morning. It is November 13, and today we’re journeying 4.3 billion light-years away from Earth to a cluster of galaxies known as MACS0416. This distant object, comprised of two colliding galaxy clusters, was initially discovered in images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Hubble revolutionized “deep field” astronomy by showcasing images containing thousands of galaxies. Now, by combining Hubble observations with the new James Webb Space Telescope, NASA and its partners have produced an even more profound view of the Universe. The resulting panchromatic image, which blends visible and infrared light, provides one of the most comprehensive views of the cosmos ever achieved.
Here’s some insight from NASA about the creation of this image:
To create the image, the shortest wavelengths of light were color-coded as blue, the longest as red, and the intermediate wavelengths as green. The wide range of wavelengths, from 0.4 to 5 microns, presents a particularly vibrant landscape of galaxies.
These colors offer clues to galaxy distances: the bluest galaxies are relatively nearby and often exhibit intense star formation, as best detected by Hubble, while the redder galaxies tend to be more distant and are best detected by Webb. Additionally, some galaxies appear very red due to their abundant cosmic dust, which absorbs bluer colors of starlight.
If this makes you feel somewhat insignificant, that’s alright.
Source: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
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