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Bullet Cluster (Webb and Chandra Image)
This is the central region of the Bullet Cluster, which is made up of two massive galaxy clusters. The vast number of galaxies and foreground stars in the image were captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in near-infrared light. Glowing, hot X-rays captured by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory appear in pink. The blue represents the dark matter, which was precisely mapped by researchers with Webb’s detailed imaging. Normally, gas, dust, stars, and dark matter are combined into galaxies, even when they are gravitationally bound within larger groups known as galaxy clusters. The Bullet Cluster is unusual in that the intracluster gas and dark matter are separated, offering further evidence in support of dark matter. (See the defined galaxy clusters within the dashed circles.)
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.06:58:37.9
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-55:57:00
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Carina
- DistanceDistanceThe 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
- DimensionsDimensionsThe 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 DescriptionData 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).
- InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.NIRCam
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.20 January 2025
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F090W, F115W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F410M, F444W
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.Bullet Cluster, 1E 0657-56
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Colliding galaxy clusters
- Release DateJune 30, 2025
- Science ReleaseNASA Webb ‘Pierces’ Bullet Cluster, Refines Its Mass
- CreditImage: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC; Science: James Jee (Yonsei University, UC Davis), Sangjun Cha (Yonsei University), Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC)
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
Related Images & Videos
Bullet Cluster (Webb and Chandra Compass Image)
Composite image of the Bullet Cluster combines near-infrared light from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory in pink, and the inferred distribution of dark matter in blue). The two galaxy clusters appear within dashed circles.
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Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC
James Jee (Yonsei University, UC Davis), Sangjun Cha (Yonsei University), Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC)
