Forms of Light: The Phantom Galaxy

Young Stars, Old Stars, Dead Stars, Gas, and Dust
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The Phantom Galaxy Interactive

Color Webb Space Telescope image of several wavelengths of mid-infrared light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as in the visible light image. The galaxy core in the middle resembles a glowing blue-colored eye, with a relatively bright whitish-blue point near the center, surrounded by smaller, blue points of starlight. Compared to the visible light image, the core appears much dimmer and the structure of both the core and the inner tips of the spiral arms are clearly visible. Winding counter-clockwise around the core, the two spiral arms are dominated by lanes of blue-gray dust. As in the visible light image, the pattern drawn by the dust resembles the cross-section of a chambered nautilus: with curved veins of dimmer blue-gray connecting the relatively bright, dense spine of each arm. Some of the bubble-like spaces between the dust veins are almost circular, while others are elongated along the spiral. Scattered along the bright spine of each arm are clumps of bright white light surrounded with a red glow. Many of the clumps along the outer reaches of the arms also appear in the visible light image. Some of the clumps that are visible near the core in the mid-infrared do not appear at all in the visible light image. The blue stars that help define the spiral arms in the visible light image do not appear in mid-infrared. The foreground stars, which are bright in visible light, are tiny blue dots in this image. Color Webb Space Telescope image of several wavelengths of mid-infrared light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as in the visible light image. The galaxy core in the middle resembles a glowing blue-colored eye, with a relatively bright whitish-blue point near the center, surrounded by smaller, blue points of starlight. Compared to the visible light image, the core appears much dimmer and the structure of both the core and the inner tips of the spiral arms are clearly visible. Winding counter-clockwise around the core, the two spiral arms are dominated by lanes of blue-gray dust. As in the visible light image, the pattern drawn by the dust resembles the cross-section of a chambered nautilus: with curved veins of dimmer blue-gray connecting the relatively bright, dense spine of each arm. Some of the bubble-like spaces between the dust veins are almost circular, while others are elongated along the spiral. Scattered along the bright spine of each arm are clumps of bright white light surrounded with a red glow. Many of the clumps along the outer reaches of the arms also appear in the visible light image. Some of the clumps that are visible near the core in the mid-infrared do not appear at all in the visible light image. The blue stars that help define the spiral arms in the visible light image do not appear in mid-infrared. The foreground stars, which are bright in visible light, are tiny blue dots in this image.
Full-color Hubble Space Telescope image of various wavelengths of visible light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective is face-on, with the core of the galaxy in the center of the image and the two galaxy arms winding out counter-clockwise from the core toward the edges of the image. The view of the galaxy is cropped such that portions of each arm are cut off and the outermost regions of the galaxy are out of view. The galaxy core is bright yellowish-white, decreasing in brightness with distance from the center. The core appears very large and hazy, with no details apparent in the center. Winding counter-clockwise around the core are two distinct spiral arms traced by brown wispy veins of dust; tiny blue stars that form a blueish fog between the brown dust lanes; and small clumps of blueish-white stars ringed with bright red gas. The brown lanes and veins of dust are most prominent in the inner region, just outside the core. The small blue stars and red knots of gas become more prominent with distance out from the core. Several bright foreground stars (stars between the telescope and the Phantom Galaxy) with distinct cross-shaped diffraction patterns are scattered across the image. Full-color Hubble Space Telescope image of various wavelengths of visible light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective is face-on, with the core of the galaxy in the center of the image and the two galaxy arms winding out counter-clockwise from the core toward the edges of the image. The view of the galaxy is cropped such that portions of each arm are cut off and the outermost regions of the galaxy are out of view. The galaxy core is bright yellowish-white, decreasing in brightness with distance from the center. The core appears very large and hazy, with no details apparent in the center. Winding counter-clockwise around the core are two distinct spiral arms traced by brown wispy veins of dust; tiny blue stars that form a blueish fog between the brown dust lanes; and small clumps of blueish-white stars ringed with bright red gas. The brown lanes and veins of dust are most prominent in the inner region, just outside the core. The small blue stars and red knots of gas become more prominent with distance out from the core. Several bright foreground stars (stars between the telescope and the Phantom Galaxy) with distinct cross-shaped diffraction patterns are scattered across the image.
XMM-Newton image of two wavelengths of ultraviolet light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as the other images. This image is much less detailed than either the visible or mid-infrared images. The spiral shape of the galaxy is apparent, but the resolution is significantly lower and some structures are not visible at all. Unlike the other images, which are full-color, this image consists of only two colors: blue and orange. The galaxy core in the middle of the image is dominated by orange and surrounded by fuzzy blobs of blueish-white. Additional blue-white clumps are arranged to form two broad and discontinuous spirals winding counter-clockwise around the core. Some of the bright blue-white clumps correspond to the red-ringed knots in the visible and mid-infrared images. Others correspond to patches of tiny blue stars that form the blueish haze seen in the visible-light image. Several discrete circular orange blobs correspond to the bright foreground stars in the visible-light image. The lanes of dust seen clearly in the visible and mid-infrared images do not appear at all in this image, and are evident only as an absence of light. XMM-Newton image of two wavelengths of ultraviolet light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as the other images. This image is much less detailed than either the visible or mid-infrared images. The spiral shape of the galaxy is apparent, but the resolution is significantly lower and some structures are not visible at all. Unlike the other images, which are full-color, this image consists of only two colors: blue and orange. The galaxy core in the middle of the image is dominated by orange and surrounded by fuzzy blobs of blueish-white. Additional blue-white clumps are arranged to form two broad and discontinuous spirals winding counter-clockwise around the core. Some of the bright blue-white clumps correspond to the red-ringed knots in the visible and mid-infrared images. Others correspond to patches of tiny blue stars that form the blueish haze seen in the visible-light image. Several discrete circular orange blobs correspond to the bright foreground stars in the visible-light image. The lanes of dust seen clearly in the visible and mid-infrared images do not appear at all in this image, and are evident only as an absence of light.
Color image of several wavelength-bands of X-ray light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). Although the perspective and field of view are the same as in the other images, this image is very different from the visible, mid-infrared, and ultraviolet images in terms of color, visible structure, and detail. Scattered across the image are glowing circles of various colors: bright red, bright blue, yellowish-orange, and white. The circles vary in size, but are typically much larger than the point-like stars in the visible and infrared images. They are somewhat fuzzy, but have more distinct outlines than the blue-white clumps in the ultraviolet image. The largest of these objects is located in the center of the image and appears to mark the core of the galaxy. It is bright white and is surrounded by a bright but diffuse red glow. This glow is present around some of the other objects and across the upper left portion of the image. Unlike in the visible, mid-infrared, and ultraviolet images, the spiral arms of the galaxy are not apparent in this image. Color image of several wavelength-bands of X-ray light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). Although the perspective and field of view are the same as in the other images, this image is very different from the visible, mid-infrared, and ultraviolet images in terms of color, visible structure, and detail. Scattered across the image are glowing circles of various colors: bright red, bright blue, yellowish-orange, and white. The circles vary in size, but are typically much larger than the point-like stars in the visible and infrared images. They are somewhat fuzzy, but have more distinct outlines than the blue-white clumps in the ultraviolet image. The largest of these objects is located in the center of the image and appears to mark the core of the galaxy. It is bright white and is surrounded by a bright but diffuse red glow. This glow is present around some of the other objects and across the upper left portion of the image. Unlike in the visible, mid-infrared, and ultraviolet images, the spiral arms of the galaxy are not apparent in this image.
Color composite of the mid-infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as in all of the other images. Each form of light is shown in a different color. The mid-infrared light captured by the James Webb Space Telescope is shown as red. The red is concentrated in the dust lanes and veins along and between the spiral arms. The visible wavelengths of light from the Hubble Space Telescope are shown as green. The green is most prominent in the points of starlight between the veins of dust within and between the arms. The ultraviolet wavelengths of light collected by XMM-Newton are shown as blue. The blue is most apparent in the fuzzy clumps along the spiral arms. The bands of X-ray light from the Chandra X-ray Observatory are shown as purple. Glowing orbs of purple are scattered here and there along and between the arms. The bright colors and the very distinct and complex spiral pattern combine to give the image a psychedelic feel. The image is brightest at the center. The brightness decreases and overall contrast increases with distance from the center. Most of the structures that are visible in the individual images are also visible in this composite. Some structures, like the orange-brown lanes of dust and the bubbles between the veins of dust, are very pronounced. Others, like the red knots that glow in visible and infrared, the blueish clumps of ultraviolet light, and the purple sources of X-ray light overlap and are harder to differentiate. Color composite of the mid-infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray light from the spiral galaxy M74 (the Phantom Galaxy). The perspective and field of view are the same as in all of the other images. Each form of light is shown in a different color. The mid-infrared light captured by the James Webb Space Telescope is shown as red. The red is concentrated in the dust lanes and veins along and between the spiral arms. The visible wavelengths of light from the Hubble Space Telescope are shown as green. The green is most prominent in the points of starlight between the veins of dust within and between the arms. The ultraviolet wavelengths of light collected by XMM-Newton are shown as blue. The blue is most apparent in the fuzzy clumps along the spiral arms. The bands of X-ray light from the Chandra X-ray Observatory are shown as purple. Glowing orbs of purple are scattered here and there along and between the arms. The bright colors and the very distinct and complex spiral pattern combine to give the image a psychedelic feel. The image is brightest at the center. The brightness decreases and overall contrast increases with distance from the center. Most of the structures that are visible in the individual images are also visible in this composite. Some structures, like the orange-brown lanes of dust and the bubbles between the veins of dust, are very pronounced. Others, like the red knots that glow in visible and infrared, the blueish clumps of ultraviolet light, and the purple sources of X-ray light overlap and are harder to differentiate.
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Lanes of dust and knots of star formation glow in infrared, tracing the galaxy’s spiral arms.

Shadowy lanes of dust absorb and scatter visible light from stars.

Hot stars emit ultraviolet energy that causes gas to glow with visible and infrared light.

Gas gives off X-rays as it falls into the super-dense core of a dead star: a black hole or neutron star.

A composite of visible and invisible light shows relationships between dust, gas, and stars.

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A Story Of Forms of Light: The Phantom Galaxy

Stars, gas, and dust that make up a spiral galaxy give off visible and invisible colors of light.

Human eyes have evolved to detect the rainbow of colors that make up visible light. Some things, like stars and light bulbs, emit their own light. Other things, like plants and animals, are visible because they reflect visible light from other sources.

But visible light is just one form of light. There are other types of electromagnetic radiation that human eyes cannot see. Objects that do not give off their own visible light (and are therefore invisible to our eyes in the dark) glow in other wavelengths, like infrared or ultraviolet. The entire range of light, from radio waves to gamma rays, is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.

The Phantom Galaxy is a spiral galaxy made of clouds of gas, streams of dust, and hundreds of billions of stars of different size, temperature, and age. Much of the dust and gas, and many of the hot, young stars are concentrated in the galaxy’s two dense spiral arms. The center of the galaxy contains many older, cooler stars. Some of the older stars that formed within the spiral arms have moved over time and are now in between the arms. Black holes and neutron stars, which are collapsed cores of exploded stars, are scattered throughout the galaxy.

These different objects and materials emit, reflect, and absorb different colors of light. Cooler materials like dust and older stars give off a lot of infrared light. The hottest materials, like the gas falling into black holes, give off X-rays, which are very high energy. Looking at the different forms of light from the Phantom Galaxy helps us understand what the galaxy is made of; how the dust, gas, and stars that make up the galaxy are related to each other; and how the galaxy changes over time.

Quick Facts: The Phantom Galaxy

Also known as: M74 (Messier 74), NGC 628

Type: Spiral Galaxy

Size: 95,000 light-years across

Distance from Earth: 32 million light-years

Location in the sky: Pisces Constellation

Location in the universe: Outside the Milky Way

Did you know: The stars within the dense arms of a spiral galaxy do not stay within the arms. Instead, they move through the arms, like cars move through a traffic jam.

Explore More About Forms of Light

Find out more with these additional resources from NASA’s Universe of Learning

Universe Unplugged
Watch “Electromagnetic Spectrum: The Musical”
NASAs Astrophoto Challenge
Try your hand at processing images from NASAs space telescopes
Astroviz
Explore the Whirlpool Galaxy in different wavelengths of light
Recoloring the Universe
Learn about Color, Astronomy and Coding

Credits: The Phantom Galaxy

Infrared image of the Phantom Galaxy from the James Webb Space Telescope: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Visible light image of the Phantom Galaxy from the Hubble Space Telescope: NASA, ESA, STScI

Ultraviolet image of the Phantom Galaxy from XMM-Newton: ESA

X-ray image of the Phantom Galaxy from the Chandra X-ray Observatory: NASA, CXC

Multi-wavelength image of the Phantom Galaxy from the James Webb Space Telescope, the Hubble Space Telescope, XMM-Newton, and the Chandra X-ray Observatory: NASA, STScI

Written, designed, developed, and produced by the Office of Public Outreach, Space Telescope Science Institute