📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
NASA recently unveiled breathtaking images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope that showcase the cosmic ballet of two galaxies merging in the vast expanse of space. Known as the Penguin and the Egg, these galaxies are located an astounding 326 million light-years away. The image, released to commemorate the second anniversary of the telescope’s operations, depicts the two merging galaxies, collectively referred to as Arp 142. The ‘Penguin’ galaxy, a distorted spiral that resembles its avian namesake, is situated in the center, while the elliptical ‘Egg’ galaxy is positioned to the left. Estimated to be approximately 100,000 light years apart, the Penguin and the Egg are on a collision course that will eventually lead to their merger into a single galaxy hundreds of millions of years from now. The image, captured in infrared, provides a mesmerizing glimpse into the intricate dance of these cosmic entities, shedding light on the mysteries of the universe.
