The James Webb Space Telescope has peered through time and vast amounts of dust to capture a new image of the Cartwheel Galaxy, revealing the spinning ring of color with unprecedented clarity*.
Located about 500 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of the Sculptor, the chariot wheel took shape during a spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies.
The impact caused two rings to expand from the center of the galaxy, “like ripples in a pond after you throw a stone into it,” NASA and the European Space Agency said in a joint statement on 2 August
A smaller white ring remains closer to the center of the galaxy, while the outer ring, with its colored radii, has been expanding in the universe for about 440 million years.
As the outer ring expands, it runs into gas, causing new stars to form.
The Hubble telescope had previously captured images of the rare ring galaxy, which is believed to have been a spiral galaxy like our own Milky Way before it was struck by a smaller intruder galaxy.
But the Webb Telescope, which launched in December 2021 and revealed its first images to worldwide fanfare* last month, has a much larger reach.
Webb’s ability to detect infrared light* allowed it to see through the “huge amount of hot dust” obscuring the view of the Cartwheel Galaxy, NASA and ESA said.
This revealed new details about star formation in the galaxy, as well as the behavior of the supermassive black hole at its heart, the agencies said.
It was also able to detect regions rich in hydrocarbons* and other chemicals, as well as Earth-like dust.
Behind the chariot wheel, two smaller galaxies shine brightly, while still more galaxies can be seen behind them.
Observations show that the Cartwheel galaxy is still in a “highly transient*” phase.
“While Webb gives us a snapshot of the Cartwheel’s current state, it also provides information about what happened to this galaxy in the past and how it will *evolve* in the future,” the space agencies said.
GLOSSARY
- unprecedented: never seen or experienced before
- clarity: clear and easy to see, hear or understand
- fanfare: a showy display intended to draw attention to something
- infrared light: a type of electricity or light wave that cannot be seen
- hydrocarbons: an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon
- transitory: last a short time, not permanent
- evolve: change or develop gradually
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QUICK QUIZ
- What is the name of the telescope that captured this image?
- What constellation is the Cartwheel galaxy part of?
- How many light years is the Cartwheel Galaxy from Earth?
- Why was this telescope able to see through the dust obscuring the view of the Chariot Wheel galaxy?
- What other telescope has previously captured images of the Cartwheel Galaxy?
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ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASSROOM1. News: condensedIdentify the most important information from this article and write a condensed version of it in 50 words or less.
Draw a picture or diagram to support your condensed news.
Time: Allow 25 minutes to complete this activityCurriculum links: English; science
2. ExpansionCompare your condensed news with a classmate. Did you both include the same information or are your stories quite different? Discuss your options, then work together to create a final condensed version of the story that you both agree covers the important parts that a reader would need or want to know.
Time: Allow 20 minutes to complete this activityCurriculum links: English
VCOP ACTIVITYRead this!An article title, or a title for your text, should grab your audience’s attention and tell them to read it now. Therefore, choosing the perfect words for a headline or title is very important.
Create three new headlines for the events that took place in this article. Remember that what you write and how you write it will set the tone for the entire text, so make sure it matches.
Read your headlines to a partner and discuss what the article will be about based on the headline you’ve created. Discuss the tone and mood you set with your few short words. Does it do the article justice? Will it capture the audience’s attention as you hoped? Want to read more?
Think about how a title or heading is similar to using short, crisp sentences throughout your text. They can be as important as complexes. Review the last text you wrote and highlight the short, sharp sentences that capture the audience.