Sombrero Galaxy (NIRCam/MIRI)

stsci_2025-127b June 3rd, 2025

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

The Sombrero galaxy is split diagonally in this image: near-infrared observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are at the top left, and mid-infrared observations from Webb are at the bottom right. The near-infrared image shows where dust from the outer ring blocks stellar light from the inner portions of the galaxy. Then, in the mid-infrared image we are actually seeing that dust glow.

Both NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) resolve individual stars outside of, but not necessarily at the same distance as, the Sombrero galaxy. These are called red giants, whose extreme temperature causes them to glow brightly at near-infrared wavelengths. These red giants also are detected in the mid-infrared, while the cooler, bluer stars in the near-infrared “disappear” in the longer wavelengths.

Provider: Space Telescope Science Institute

Image Source: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2025/news-2025-127

Curator: STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA

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