NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery in the Sombrero Galaxy, a spiral galaxy 30 million light-years away in the Virgo constellation. The telescope has captured mid-infrared images of the galaxy for the first time, revealing its unique composition and role in galactic processes.
The Sombrero Galaxy, named for its hat-shaped appearance, is not as prolific a star factory as previously thought. Unlike the Cigar Galaxy, which produces 10 times more stars than the Milky Way, the Sombrero Galaxy produces less than one solar mass of stars per year. However, scientists have identified young star-forming regions in the galaxy’s outer dust rings, indicating that it may still be an important site for stellar activity.
The mid-infrared images captured by the JWST also reveal a smooth inner disk and clumps in the outer ring, which are likely caused by the presence of dust. This new perspective on the Sombrero Galaxy provides valuable insights into its structure and evolution.
The James Webb Space Telescope has been capturing stunning images since its launch in 2021 and has set a record for demand on observation time, with over 2,300 proposals submitted for the upcoming cycle. The telescope’s capabilities are becoming increasingly important as it tackles some of the biggest questions in astronomy.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/space-photo-of-the-week-james-webb-telescope-spots-a-secret-star-factory-in-the-sombrero-galaxy