Webb's First Deep Field: Galaxy Composition (NIRSpec Emission Spectrum)

Stsci_2022-035e_1024

stsci_2022-035e July 12th, 2022

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team

This galaxy emitted its light 13.1 billion years ago.

It was captured by Webb’s microshutter array, part of its Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec). This instrument is so sensitive that it can observe the light of individual galaxies that existed in the very early universe. This will prove transformational for research. Webb’s capabilities have allowed scientists to observe spectra of galaxies this far away for the first time.

When researchers stretch out the light of an individual galaxy into a spectrum, like the graph shown above, they can learn about the chemical composition, temperature, and density of the galaxy’s ionized gas. For example, this galaxy’s spectrum will reveal the properties of its gas, which will indicate how its stars are forming and how much dust it contains. These data are rich – and have never before been detected from this far away at this quality.

As astronomers begin analyzing Webb’s data, we will learn an incredible amount about galaxies that existed all across cosmic time – and how they compare to the beautiful spiral and elliptical galaxies in the nearby universe.

Want to capture your own spectra with Webb’s microshutter array? Learn how scientists use the instrument by “taking” your own observations in this interactive and analyze the spectra it returns.

For a full array of Webb’s first images and spectra, including downloadable files, please visit: https://webbtelescope.org/news/first-images

NIRSpec was built for the European Space Agency (ESA) by a consortium of European companies led by Airbus Defense and Space (ADS) with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center providing its detector and micro-shutter subsystems.

Provider: Space Telescope Science Institute

Image Source: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2022/news-2022-035

Curator: STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA

Image Use Policy: http://stsci.edu/copyright/

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Image Details

Image Type
Chart
Object Name
SMACS 0723-73
Subject - Distant Universe
Galaxy > Grouping > Cluster
Galaxy > Type > Gravitationally Lensed

Distance

Universescale3
13,100,000,000 light years

Position Details

Position (FK5)
RA = 7h 23m 8.6s
DEC = -73° 26’ 59.2”
Constellation
Volans

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Grayscale Webb (NIRSpec/MSA) Infrared 3.3 µm
Grayscale Webb (NIRSpec/MSA) Infrared 4.9 µm
Spectrum_base
Grayscale
Grayscale
Stsci_2022-035e_1280
×
ID
2022-035e
Subject Category
D.5.5.3   D.5.1.8  
Subject Name
SMACS 0723-73
Credits
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team
Release Date
2022-07-12T00:00:00
Lightyears
13,100,000,000
Redshift
13,100,000,000
Reference Url
https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2022/news-2022-035
Type
Chart
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Distance in lightyears
Facility
Webb, Webb
Instrument
NIRSpec/MSA, NIRSpec/MSA
Color Assignment
Grayscale, Grayscale
Band
Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
3300, 4900
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
FK5
Equinox
Reference Value
110.7856779410000030, -73.4497732803999952
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
STScI
URL
http://stsci.edu
Name
Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach
Email
outreach@stsci.edu
Telephone
410-338-4444
Address
3700 San Martin Drive
City
Baltimore
State/Province
MD
Postal Code
21218
Country
USA
Rights
http://stsci.edu/copyright/
Publisher
STScI
Publisher ID
stsci
Resource ID
STSCI-J-p22035e-f-3996x3020.tif
Metadata Date
2022-09-06T15:24:20-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
13,100,000,000 light years

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