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Arp 142 Visualization

This visualization examines the three-dimensional structure of Arp 142, a pair of interacting galaxies nicknamed the Penguin and the Egg, as seen in near-infrared light by the James Webb Space Telescope.

The Penguin, a spiral galaxy cataloged as NGC 2936, has passed by the Egg, an elliptical galaxy cataloged NGC 2937, seen at left.

During this gravitational encounter, the pancake-like shape of the spiral galaxy has become stretched and twisted. The stretched out lower part of the spiral galaxy looks like the body of a penguin, and the galaxy’s central bulge forms its eye. The far side of the Penguin has twisted to extend away from our point of view, producing what looks like a beak.

In contrast, the elliptical galaxy has been slightly elongated, producing the egg-like shape.

Examining these galaxy structures in three dimensions helps us better understand how galaxy encounters develop.

  • Release Date
    July 12, 2024
  • Science Release
    Vivid Portrait of Interacting Galaxies Marks Webb’s Second Anniversary
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Visualization: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Christian Nieves (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Frank Summers (STScI), Gregory Bacon (STScI)

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Related Images & Videos

Two interacting galaxies known as Arp 142. At left is NGC 2937, nicknamed the Egg for its appearance. At right is NGC 2936, nicknamed the Penguin for its appearance. The latter’s beak-like region points toward and above the Egg.

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (NIRCam and MIRI Image)

This “penguin party” is loud! The distorted spiral galaxy at center, the Penguin, and the compact elliptical galaxy at left, the Egg, are locked in an active embrace. A new near- and mid-infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope, taken to mark its second year of...

Two interacting galaxies known as Arp 142 in a horizontal image taken in mid-infrared light. At left is NGC 2937, which looks like a tiny teal oval and is nicknamed the Egg. At right is NGC 2936, nicknamed the Penguin, which is significantly larger and looks like a bird with a fanned tail.

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (MIRI Image)

Webb’s mid-infrared view of interacting galaxies Arp 142 seems to sing in primary colors. The background of space is like a yawning darkness speckled with bright, multi-colored beads. This image was taken by MIRI , the telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument, which astronomers use...

Frame is split down the middle: Hubble’s visible light image at left, and Webb’s near-infrared image at right. Both show the Egg at left and the Penguin at right.

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (Hubble and Webb Image)

Two penguins, two eggs — two very different color schemes! The Hubble Space Telescope captured visible light when observing Arp 142, nicknamed the Penguin and the Egg, in 2013 . At right is the James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared light view of the same region. Both images...

A graphic labeled “James Webb Space Telescope, Interacting Galaxies Arp 142.” In the center is a near- and mid-infrared image of two interacting galaxies set against a field of much smaller, more distant galaxies in the black background of space.

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (NIRCam and MIRI Compass Image)

This image of interacting galaxies Arp 142, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), shows compass arrows, scale bar, and color key for reference. The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the...

A graphic labeled “James Webb Space Telescope, Interacting Galaxies Arp 142.” In the center is a mid-infrared image of two interacting galaxies set against a field of much smaller, more distant galaxies in the black background of space.

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (MIRI Compass Image)

This image of interacting galaxies Arp 142, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), shows compass arrows, scale bar, and color key for reference. The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the...

Two interacting galaxies known as Arp 142. At left is NGC 2937, nicknamed the Egg for its appearance. At right is NGC 2936, nicknamed the Penguin for its appearance. The latter’s beak-like region points toward and above the Egg.

A Tour of Arp 142

This video tours Arp 142, an interacting galaxy pair affectionately known as the Penguin and the Egg that lies 326 million light-years from Earth. The journey begins and ends on a new mid- and near-infrared image from the James Webb Space Telescope, and includes a brief fade to...

Frame is split down the middle: Hubble’s visible light image at left, and Webb’s near-infrared image at right. Both show the Egg at left and the Penguin at right. In Hubble’s view, the Penguin is highly detailed, with a bright blue beak, body, and tail that is covered in an arc of bright brown dust. The Egg, to its left, appears bright, gleaming yellowish white. At top right is another galaxy seen from the side, about as long as the Egg’s height. Dozens of galaxies and stars appear in the background. Webb’s near-infrared image shows the Penguin’s beak, head, and back in shades of pink. It’s tail-like region is more diffuse, and a mix of lighter pinks and blues. The Egg appears slightly larger in blue layers. A semi-transparent blue forms an upside down U over top of both galaxies. At top right, an edge-on galaxy has many more pinpricks of light, which are stars. Thousands of galaxies and stars appear in the background. Some galaxies are shades of orange, while others are white.

Arp 142 Hubble to Webb Fade

This video compares images of two interacting galaxies cataloged Arp 142, nicknamed the Penguin and the Egg. The first image is in visible light, and was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). The second shows near-infrared light observed by the...

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Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

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

Visualization Credit

NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Christian Nieves (STScI), Joseph Olmsted (STScI), Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Frank Summers (STScI), Gregory Bacon (STScI)

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