Close-up of galaxy distribution in the Spiderweb Protocluster (NIRCam, annotated)

Using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers have found new galaxies in the Spiderweb protocluster. Their characteristics shed light on the growth of galaxies in these large cosmic cities, with the finding that gravitational interactions in these dense regions are not as important as previously thought.

With the use of Webb’s capabilities, astronomers have now sought to better understand this protocluster and to reveal new galaxies within it. Infrared radiation passes more freely through cosmic dust than visible light, which is scattered by the dust. Because Webb can see infrared light very well, scientists used it to observe regions of the Spiderweb that were previously hidden to us by cosmic dust, and to find out to what degree this dust obscures them.

This annotated image shows the galaxy distribution in the Spiderweb protocluster as seen by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera). The galaxies are annotated by white circles, and the collection of gravitationally-bound galaxies is identified in the centre of the image. A selection of these galaxies are featured as individual close-ups at the bottom of the image.

[Image description: This annotated image shows hundreds of galaxies appearing in this view, which is set against the black background of space. There are many overlapping objects at various distances. Dozens of galaxies are individually identified with white circles, and a large white circle in the centre of the image highlights the collection of gravitationally-bound galaxies in the field. The bottom of the image shows a close-up of seven of these central galaxies. The objects visible in the image include large, blue foreground stars, some with eight diffraction spikes, and white and pink spiral and elliptical galaxies, as well as numerous tiny orange dots that appear throughout the scene.]