ESA just released some beautiful #JWST images of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy.
In the near-infrared image, dark red features trace the filamentary warm dust, while colors of red, orange, and yellow show gas ionized by recently formed star clusters.
In the mid-infrared image, dust grains and molecules glow, heated by starlight. Empty cavities and bright filaments alternate, giving the impression of ripples propagating from the spiral arms.
More https://esawebb.org/images/potm2308c/
#Astronomy #Space #Galaxy
For context, here is the JWST image superimposed on a #Hubble image of M51. The JWST images cover just a portion of the entire galaxy.
The Whirlpool Galaxy is a grand design spiral. Its arms may be so prominent because of a series of close encounters with NGC 5195, the small, yellowish galaxy behind the outermost tip of one of its arms.
Hubble image from: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2005/12/1677-Image.html
@kellylepo There is a million of stars! 🙀 😱
@Revertron
million? It's like saying my car weights couple kilos 
@kellylepo
