MACS 0416 (Hubble and Webb Compared)

 MACS 0416 (Hubble and Webb Compared)

This side-by-side comparison of galaxy cluster MACS0416 as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope in optical light (left) and the James Webb Space Telescope in infrared light (right) reveals different details. Both images feature hundreds of galaxies, however the Webb image shows galaxies that are invisible or only barely visible in the Hubble image. This is because Webb’s infrared vision can detect galaxies too distant or dusty for Hubble to see. (Light from distant galaxies is redshifted due to the expansion of the universe.) The total exposure time for Webb was about 22 hours, compared to 122 hours of exposure time for the Hubble image.

Credits

Image

NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

About The Object
Object Name MACS J0416.1-2403
Object Description Lensing Galaxy Cluster
R.A. Position 04:16:9.89
Dec. Position -24:03:58.0
Constellation Eridanus
About The Data
Data Description These images were created with Hubble data from proposals (M. Postman), (J. Lotz), and (S. Rodney) as well as Webb data from proposals: and (R. Windhorst). Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
Instrument HST ACS & WFC3; JWST NIRCam
Exposure Dates HST: July 2012 - Feb 2023 JWST: 7 Oct 2022, 29 Dec 2022, 10 Feb 2022
Filters HST ACS: F435W, F606W, F814W; WFC3/IR: F105W, F125W, F140W, F160W; JWST NIRCam: F090W, F115W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F410M, F444W
About The Object
Object Name A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
Object Description The type of astronomical object.
R.A. Position Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
Dec. Position Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
Constellation One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
Distance The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
Dimensions The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
About The Data
Data Description
  • Proposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
  • Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
Instrument The science instrument used to produce the data.
Exposure Dates The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
Filters The camera filters that were used in the science observations.
About The Image
Image Credit The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content.
Publication Date The date and time the release content became public.
Color Info A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.
Orientation The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere.