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Zoom Into BlueTides Universe Simulation

This video zooms into a highly detailed simulation of the universe called BlueTides. Much like the iconic Powers of Ten video, each step covers a distance 10 times smaller than the previous one. The first frame spans about 200 million light-years while the fourth and final frame spans only 200,000 light-years and contains two galaxies. Researchers used this simulation to investigate the properties of galaxies that contain quasars – bright galactic cores powered by accreting supermassive black holes.

  • Release Date
    October 14, 2020
  • Science Release
    Simulations Show Webb Telescope Can Reveal Distant Galaxies Hidden in Quasars’ Glare
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Video: Leah Hustak (STScI), Y. Ni (CMU)

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  • Video: 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
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  • Audio Description
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  • Captions: No Audio
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  • Image: Poster image, 1280 × 720
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Related Images & Videos

Illustration of High-Redshift Quasar and Companion Galaxy

High-Redshift Quasar and Companion Galaxy (Illustration)

This artist’s illustration portrays two galaxies that existed in the first billion years of the universe. The larger galaxy at left hosts a brilliant quasar at its center, whose glow is powered by hot matter surrounding a supermassive black hole. Scientists calculate that the...

Graphic of four images of equal size. The top two are labeled “Webb” and the bottom two are labeled “Hubble.” The two images at left show a host galaxy. The two images at right show a host galaxy and a quasar.

Simulated Infrared Images from Webb and Hubble

These simulated images show how a quasar and its host galaxy would appear to NASA’s upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (top) and Hubble Space Telescope (bottom) at infrared wavelengths of 1.5 and 1.6 microns, respectively. Webb’s larger mirror will provide more than 4 times the...

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Video Credit

Leah Hustak (STScI), Y. Ni (CMU)

Related Terms

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