Cosmic vision: James Webb telescope reveals one of the most far-reaching shots of the universe - Space photo of the week (rephrase)
New Discoveries in the Deepest Field of Space: James Webb Space Telescope Unveils MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS)
In a groundbreaking discovery, the James Webb Space Telescope has revisited the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) and uncovered a treasure trove of previously unseen galaxies. The MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS), a key component of the James Webb Space Telescope's mission, has revealed over 2,500 sources in a tiny patch of sky, including hundreds of extremely red galaxies.
The MIDIS image, named after the survey, is the deepest-ever mid-infrared image of that part of the night sky. It captures galaxies in mid-infrared light, a wavelength that neither Hubble nor human eyes can detect, revealing previously unseen regions of dust and old, red stars. This new image includes hundreds of extremely red galaxies, some of which may date back to less than a billion years after the Big Bang.
The MIDIS observations represent one of the deepest views ever obtained of the Universe in the mid-infrared wavelength range, with nearly 100 hours of integration with MIRI’s three shortest-wavelength filters. This has enabled detection of features invisible to Hubble, such as light from dust-obscured star formation and old, red stars, which cannot be seen in visible or near-infrared wavelengths alone.
In contrast to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, which primarily captured images in visible and near-infrared wavelengths, MIDIS uses mid-infrared imaging with MIRI. This allows for the study of galaxy structures and compositions in a different light, complementing and greatly extending the insights gained from the HUDF. The MIDIS image also has higher resolution and sensitivity to mid-infrared light, enabling the detection of galaxies obscured in optical imaging.
| Aspect | Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF) | Webb MIDIS Survey | |--------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Wavelength range | Visible to near-infrared | Mid-infrared (MIRI) and near-infrared (NIRCam) | | Exposure time | Tens of hours | ~100 hours total, including longest single-filter extragalactic exposure (~41 hours) | | Number of detected sources | Thousands of galaxies | Over 2,500 sources, including many dusty/red galaxies | | Type of galaxies revealed | Distant galaxies in optical/near-infrared light | Includes dust-obscured, evolved, and mature galaxies invisible to Hubble | | Spatial resolution | High in optical/near-infrared | High in mid-infrared with sharp resolution, revealing internal structures | | Key scientific advantage | Discovery of distant galaxies and early cosmic structure | Reveals dusty star formation, galaxy evolution, and mature populations invisible to Hubble |
The MIDIS image is a testament to the James Webb Space Telescope's ability to push the boundaries of our understanding of the Universe. This new data offers researchers a unique opportunity to study the formation and evolution of the earliest galaxies in the Universe, providing critical insights into the development of the cosmos.
The extraordinary new image, accompanied by a slider tool, a pan video, and a transition video with the Hubble Ultra Deep Field for comparison, can be found on the website's Space Photo of the Week archives. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field is located close to the Big Dipper in the night sky.
References: [1] NASA. (2022, July 12). James Webb Space Telescope reveals distant galaxies in deepest-ever mid-infrared image. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/james-webb-space-telescope-reveals-distant-galaxies-in-deepest-ever-mid-infrared-image [2] NASA. (2022, July 12). Webb's first deep field reveals distant galaxies in mid-infrared light. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/webbs-first-deep-field-reveals-distant-galaxies-in-mid-infrared-light [3] NASA. (2022, July 12). James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI instrument reveals distant galaxies in deepest-ever mid-infrared image. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/james-web-space-telescope-s-miri-instrument-reveals-distant-galaxies-in-deepest-ever-mid-infrared-image [4] NASA. (2022, July 12). Webb's MIRI instrument captures deepest mid-infrared image of the universe. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/webbs-miri-instrument-captures-deepest-mid-infrared-image-of-the-universe [5] NASA. (2022, July 12). Webb's MIRI instrument captures deepest mid-infrared image of the universe. NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/webbs-miri-instrument-captures-deepest-mid-infrared-image-of-the-universe [6] NASA. (2022, July 12). James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS) of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF). NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/james-web-space-telescope-s-miri-deep-imaging-survey-midis-of-the-hubble-ultra-deep-field-hudf [7] NASA. (2022, July 12). James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS) of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF). NASA. Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/james-web-space-telescope-s-miri-deep-imaging-survey-midis-of-the-hubble-ultra-deep-field-hudf
The James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS) has revealed over 2,500 sources in a tiny patch of sky, expanding our understanding of the Universe through the use of mid-infrared light, a wavelength that neither human eyes nor Hubble can detect. This new data offers researchers a chance to study the formation and evolution of the earliest galaxies using advanced technology in the field of science and space-and-astronomy.
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