Infrared Universe: Zoo of Galaxies

Galaxies come in all shapes and sizes. The differences between them hints at their formation, and at the assembly of the universe.

Optical: To Hubble's visible-light-detecting cameras, galaxies look like a continuum of shapes and sizes from grand spirals to indistinct ellipticals.
Credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey, L. Cortese, Swinburne University

Far-Infrared: Viewed by the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory, only certain galaxies have dense cores, which can be seen only in the infrared. This sequence of galaxies would look very different under Webb's powerful infrared vision, which would bridge the gap between these two images.
Credit: ESA, Herschel, HRS-SAG2 and HeViCS Key Programmes, L. Cortese, Swinburne University

About the Infrared Universe Collection

The human eye can only see visible light, but objects give off a variety of wavelengths of light. To see an object as it truly exists, we would ideally look at its appearance through the full range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Telescopes show us objects as they appear emitting different energies of light, with each wavelength conveying unique information about the object. The Webb Space Telescope will study infrared light from celestial objects with much greater clarity and sensitivity than ever before. Explore the Infrared Universe. Adapted from Cool Cosmos by IPAC, with additional contributions from Bruno Merin and Miguel Merin (Pludo).