James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning ‘cosmic penguin’

By Dean Murray via SWNS

A cosmic penguin and egg mark the second anniversary of the James Webb Space Telescope.

The duo of interacting galaxies commemorates the science milestone of NASA’s spacecraft.

The telescope takes constant observations, including images and highly detailed data known as spectra - which can result in eye-catching images such as these.

The telescope’s specialization in capturing infrared light — which is beyond what our own eyes can detect — shows these galaxies, collectively known as Arp 142, locked in a "slow cosmic dance".

Webb’s observations, which combine near- and mid-infrared light from Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), respectively, clearly show that they are joined by a haze represented in blue that is a mix of stars and gas, a result of their mingling.

NASA explains: "Their ongoing interaction was set in motion between 25 and 75 million years ago when the Penguin (individually cataloged as NGC 2936) and the Egg (NGC 2937) completed their first pass.

"They will go on to shimmy and sway, completing several additional loops before merging into a single galaxy hundreds of millions of years from now."

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson says: "Since President Biden and Vice President Harris unveiled the first image from the James Webb Space Telescope two years ago, Webb has continued to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

"With remarkable images from the corners of the cosmos, going back nearly to the beginning of time, Webb’s capabilities are shedding new light on our celestial surroundings and inspiring future generations of scientists, astronomers, and explorers."

Mark Clampin, director of the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington, says: "In just two years, Webb has transformed our view of the universe, enabling the kind of world-class science that drove NASA to make this mission a reality.

"Webb is providing insights into longstanding mysteries about the early universe and ushering in a new era of studying distant worlds while returning images that inspire people around the world and posing exciting new questions to answer. It has never been more possible to explore every facet of the universe."