Science & Tech · Space · 8 hrs ago
Webb reveals how an ancient collision reshaped the Cartwheel Galaxy
The James Webb Space Telescope revealed the Cartwheel Galaxy in infrared light, showing its bright rings, dusty spokes and glowing center.
The galaxy lies about 500 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.
A high-speed collision with a smaller galaxy reshaped it hundreds of millions of years ago, though the intruder is not visible in this image.
The impact sent disturbances outward, forming an inner ring and a much larger outer ring that has been expanding for about 440 million years.
The expanding outer ring is triggering new stars as it moves into surrounding gas, while young star clusters also brighten the center.
Webb combined observations from its NIRCam and MIRI instruments to show stars and dust through a veil that obscures parts of the galaxy in visible light.
The image shows how collisions can reshape galaxies and change where stars form long after the original impact.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared view shows how a high-speed collision reshaped the Cartwheel Galaxy and triggered waves of star formation.
The galaxy is about 500 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.
The collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller one created a bright inner ring and a broader outer ring.
The outer ring has been expanding for about 440 million years and continues to form stars.
Webb combined observations from its Near-Infrared Camera and Mid-Infrared Instrument to reveal stars and dust in detail.
- Who
- The James Webb Space Telescope captured the image of the Cartwheel Galaxy.
- What
- The infrared image reveals the galaxy’s structure and regions of star formation shaped by an ancient collision.
- When
- The image was released on August 2, 2022. The article was published on November 14, 2026.
- Where
- The Cartwheel Galaxy, about 500 million light-years away in the constellation Sculptor.
- Why
- A high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller galaxy disrupted the larger galaxy and triggered waves of star formation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A high-speed collision disrupted a large spiral galaxy and sent disturbances outward.
The Cartwheel’s outer ring has been expanding, triggering new star formation.
The Webb image of the Cartwheel Galaxy was released.
Earth.com published its report on Webb’s view of the galaxy.
- Distance
- Roughly 500 million light-years
- Location
- Constellation Sculptor
- Outer ring expansion
- About 440 million years
- Telescope
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Instruments
- Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)