Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2026 February 26
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                          Webb and Hubble: IC 5332
         Image Credit: [3]ESA/Webb, [4]NASA, [5]CSA, J. Lee and the
                     [6]PHANGS-JWST and PHANGS-HST Teams
    Text: [7]Cecilia Chirenti ([8]NASA [9]GSFC, [10]UMCP, [11]CRESST II)

   Explanation: What does the universe look like through [12]infrared
   goggles? Our eyes can only see [13]visible light, but astronomers want
   to see more. Today’s APOD shows [14]spiral galaxy [15]IC 5332 as seen
   by two [16]NASA telescopes: [17]Webb in mid-[18]infrared and [19]Hubble
   in [20]ultraviolet and visible light. To toggle between the two
   space-based views just slide your cursor over the image (or follow
   [21]this link). The Hubble image highlights the [22]spiral arms of the
   galaxy separated by [23]dark regions, whereas the Webb image reveals a
   finer, more tangled structure. [24]Interstellar dust scatters and
   absorbs light from the stars in the galaxy, causing the [25]dark dust
   lanes in the Hubble image, and then emits heat in infrared light, so
   dust [26]glows in this Webb image. The [27]Mid-InfraRed Instrument on
   Webb needs to operate at a chilling temperature of -266ºC (or - 447ºF),
   otherwise it would detect infrared radiation from the telescope itself.
   [28]Combining these observations, [29]astronomers connect the “small
   scale” of gas and stars to the truly large scale of galactic structure
   and evolution.

               Tomorrow's picture: [30]invertebrates in space
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [42]Robert Nemiroff ([43]MTU) & [44]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([45]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [46]Specific rights apply.
            [47]NASA Web Privacy, [48]Accessibility, [49]Notices;
                A service of: [50]ASD at [51]NASA / [52]GSFC,
                         [53]NASA Science Activation
                           & [54]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/potm2209c.jpg
   3. https://esawebb.org/
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/
   6. https://phangs.stsci.edu/
   7. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/cecilia.bertonimarthahadlerchirenti
   8. https://www.nasa.gov/
   9. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
  10. https://www.astro.umd.edu/people/cecilia-chirenti
  11. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
  12. https://www.wikihow.com/Build-Near-Infrared-Goggles
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/galaxies/types/
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_5332
  16. https://www.nasa.gov/
  17. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
  19. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
  20. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves/
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/IC5332hubble2209b_1024.jpg
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_arm
  23. https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1581928520011-5668fdbc091f?q=80&w=2234&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA==4
  24. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/be-glad-you-dont-have-to-dust-in-space/
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251106.html
  26. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/science-overview/science-explainers/infrared-astronomy/
  27. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/mid-infrared-instrument-miri/
  28. https://esawebb.org/images/comparisons/potm2209a/
  29. https://phangs.stsci.edu/
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260227.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260225.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  37. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  38. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  40. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260226
  41. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260227.html
  42. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  43. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  44. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  45. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  46. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  47. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  48. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  49. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  50. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  51. https://www.nasa.gov/
  52. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  53. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  54. http://www.mtu.edu/