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Interacting Galaxies Arp 142 (NIRCam and MIRI Compass Image)

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.

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 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).

The scale bar is labeled in light-years, which is the distance that light travels in one Earth-year. One light-year is equal to about 5.88 trillion miles or 9.46 trillion kilometers.

The scale bar is also labeled in arcseconds, which is a measure of angular distance on the sky. One arcsecond is equal an angular measurement of 1/3600 of one degree. There are 60 arcminutes in a degree and 60 arcseconds in an arcminute. (The full Moon has an angular diameter of about 30 arcminutes.) The actual size of an object that covers one arcsecond on the sky depends on its distance from the telescope.

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

Read the full image caption.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    09:37:43.09
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    02:45:47.01
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Hydra
  • 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.
    326 million light-years
  • Dimensions
    DimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.
    Image is 2.2 arcmin across (about 210,000 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: 6564 (M. Marin); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    NIRCam, MIRI
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    May 6, 2024
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    F090W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F444W, F770W, F1000W, F1500W
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Arp 142, NGC 2396/2397
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Interacting Galaxies
  • Release Date
    July 12, 2024
  • Science Release
    Vivid Portrait of Interacting Galaxies Marks Webb’s Second Anniversary
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

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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.
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 and MIRI instruments. Several filters were used to sample narrow and broad 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: Red: F1500W, F1000W, and F444W. Orange: F770W and F356W. Yellow: F277W. Green: F200W. Blue: F150W and F090W.

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 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...

A visualization of Arp 142, two interacting galaxies, observed in near-infrared light. At left is NGC 2937, nicknamed the Egg. Its center is the brighter and whiter. At right and above is NGC 2936, nicknamed the Penguin. Its beak-like region points leftward, above the Egg. Where the eye would be is a small, opaque white central bulge. The Penguin’s distorted arms form the bird’s beak, back, and tail, the outlines of which are pink. The tail is wide and layered, like a beta fish’s tail. A semi-transparent blue hue traces the Penguin and extends from the galaxy, creating an upside-down U over top of both galaxies. The entire black background is filled with tiny, much more distant galaxies.

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,...

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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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

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