This image of galaxy cluster MACS0416 highlights one particular gravitationally lensed background galaxy, which existed about 3 billion years after the big bang. That galaxy contains a transient, or object that varies in observed brightness over time, that the science team nicknamed “Mothra.” Mothra is a star that is magnified by a factor of at least 4,000 times. The team believes that Mothra is magnified not only by the gravity of galaxy cluster MACS0416, but also by an object known as a “milli-lens” that likely weighs about as much as a globular star cluster.
Credits
Image
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Jose M. Diego (IFCA), Jordan C. J. D'Silva (UWA), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Jake Summers (ASU), Rogier Windhorst (ASU), Haojing Yan (University of Missouri)
| 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 | This image was 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 Image | |
| Color Info | These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes using the ACS, WFC3, and NIRCam instruments. Multiple filters were used to sample broad and narrow wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are: Red: F444W and F410M, Orange: F356W, Yellow: F277W and F200W, Green: F160W, F150W, F140W, F125W, F115W, Cyan: F090W, F105W, F814W, Blue: F606W, F435W |
| Compass Image |  |
| 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 |
|
| 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. |
