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Bullet Cluster (Webb and Chandra Compass Image)

A graphic labeled “James Webb Space Telescope; The Bullet Cluster, IE 0657-56.” Overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies, are set against the black background of space. Two large blobs appear blue and pink at left and right.

This composite image of the Bullet Cluster combines near-infrared light from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (shown in pink), and the inferred distribution of dark matter (mapped in blue). The two galaxy clusters that make up the Bullet Cluster appear within dashed circles. The image also shows compass arrows and a color key for reference.

The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the relationship between north and east on the sky (as seen from below) is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground (as seen from above).

This image shows invisible near-infrared and X-ray wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key shows which Webb NIRCam and Chandra filters were used when collecting the light. The color of each filter name is the visible light color used to represent the infrared and X-ray light that passes through that filter.

Read a full description of the image.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    06:58:37.9
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -55:57:00
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Carina
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    3.7 billion light-years
  • Dimensions
    DimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
    Image is 5.8 arcmin across (about 6.3 million light-years)

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.

    This image was created with Webb data from proposal: 4598 (Marusa Bradac). Image processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI).

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    NIRCam
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    20 January 2025
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F090W, F115W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F410M, F444W
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Bullet Cluster, 1E 0657-56
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Colliding galaxy clusters
  • Release Date
    June 30, 2025
  • Science Release
    NASA Webb ‘Pierces’ Bullet Cluster, Refines Its Mass
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC; Science: James Jee (Yonsei University, UC Davis), Sangjun Cha (Yonsei University), Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC)

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A graphic labeled “James Webb Space Telescope; The Bullet Cluster, IE 0657-56.” Overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies, are set against the black background of space. Two large blobs appear blue and pink at left and right.
Color Info
Color InfoA brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.

These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the James Webb Space Telescope using the NIRCam instrument. Several filters were used to sample specific wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are:   Blue: F090W, Cyan: F115W, Green: F150W, Yellow: F200W, Yellow: F277W, Orange: F356W, Red: F410M, Red: F444W

Compass and Scale
Compass and ScaleAn astronomical image with a scale that shows how large an object is on the sky, a compass that shows how the object is oriented on the sky, and the filters with which the image was made.

Related Images & Videos

Webb near-infrared data combined with Chandra X-ray data of the Bullet Cluster show many overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies behind the galaxy clusters, set against the black background of space. A large blue oval, two pink areas, and a smaller blue area are layered on top.

Bullet Cluster (Webb and Chandra Image)

The Bullet Cluster is made up of two massive galaxy clusters. Webb shows a vast number of galaxies and foreground stars in near-infrared light. Glowing, hot X-rays captured by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory appear in pink. Blue represents mapped dark matter.

Webb observation of the Bullet Cluster shows many overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies behind the galaxy clusters, set against the black background of space.

Bullet Cluster (NIRCam Image)

Webb captured the central region of the Bullet Cluster with its NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), revealing many more distant galaxies and faint objects, allowing a research team to refine the amount of mass in the two galaxy clusters.

Hubble observation of the Bullet Cluster shows many overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies behind the galaxy clusters. The objects are all at various distances set against the black background of space.

Bullet Cluster Hubble to Webb Fade

Video fades between images of the Bullet Cluster taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. More distant galaxies pop into view with Webb’s near-infrared observation.

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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

Image Credit

NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC

Science Credit

James Jee (Yonsei University, UC Davis), Sangjun Cha (Yonsei University), Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC)

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