![Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (Hubble and Webb Image)](http://stsci-opo.org/STScI-01J0PA3FQ896YERDHB0R5DDAK0.png)
Two penguins, two eggs — two very different color schemes!
The Hubble Space Telescope captured visible light when observing Arp 142, nicknamed the Penguin and the Egg, in 2013.
At right is the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared light view of the same region.
Both images are made up of several filters. The process of applying color to Webb’s images is remarkably similar to the approach used for Hubble: The shortest wavelengths are assigned blue and the longest wavelengths are assigned red. For Webb, image processors translate near-infrared light images, in order, to visible colors. Both telescopes take high-resolution images, so there are many features to explore.
In Hubble’s visible light image, a dark brown dust lane begins across the Penguin’s “beak” and extends through its body and along its back. In Webb’s near-infrared view, this dust lane is significantly fainter.
Linger on Webb’s image. A faint upside-down U shape joins the pair of galaxies. This is a combination of stars, gas, and dust that continues to mix as the galaxies mingle. In Hubble’s view, notice there is a clearer gap between the Penguin’s “beak” and the top of the Egg. Toward the bottom of the Penguin’s tail are several prominent spiral galaxies, though there are a few more in Webb’s image.
The Egg itself looks similar in both images, but in Webb’s view, the galaxy shines so brightly that it causes diffraction spikes to slightly extend its gleam. The galaxy at top right appears about the same size, but many more pinpricks of stars appear in Webb’s view.
Now, compare the backgrounds. Hubble shows many distant galaxies in visible light, though areas in the corners that are completely black were outside the telescope’s field of view. Many more distant galaxies gleam in Webb’s infrared image. This is a testament to the sensitivity and resolution of Webb’s near-infrared camera, and the advantages of infrared light. Light from distant galaxies is stretched as it travels across the universe, so a significant portion of their light can only be detected in longer wavelengths. Learn more about the benefits of observing infrared light.
Explore Webb’s near- and mid-infrared light image and its mid-infrared light-only image.
About The Object | |
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Object Name | Arp 142, NGC 2396/2397 |
Object Description | Interacting Galaxies |
R.A. Position | 09:37:43.09 |
Dec. Position | 02:45:47.01 |
Constellation | Hydra |
Distance | 326 million light-years |
About The Data | |
Data Description | The Hubble image is from proposal (Hubble Heritage Team). The Webb image is from proposal: (M. Marin); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) |
Instrument | Hubble: WFC3/UVIS; Webb: NIRcam |
Exposure Dates | Hubble: June 22, 2012; Webb: May 6, 2024 |
Filters | Hubble: F475W, F606W, F814W; Webb: F090W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F444W |
About The Object | |
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Object Name | A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object. |
Object Description | The type of astronomical object. |
R.A. Position | Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position. |
Dec. Position | Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position. |
Constellation | One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears. |
Distance | The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs. |
Dimensions | The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky. |
About The Data | |
Data Description |
|
Instrument | The science instrument used to produce the data. |
Exposure Dates | The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time. |
Filters | The camera filters that were used in the science observations. |
About The Image | |
Image Credit | The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content. |
Publication Date | The date and time the release content became public. |
Color Info | A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented. |
Orientation | The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere. |