This galaxy formed as the result of a high-speed collision that occurred about 400 million years ago. The Cartwheel is composed of two rings, a bright inner ring and a colorful outer ring. Both rings expand outward from the center of the collision like shockwaves. However, despite the impact, much of the character of the large, spiral galaxy that existed before the collision remains, including its rotating arms. This leads to the “spokes” that inspired the name of the Cartwheel Galaxy, which are the bright red streaks seen between the inner and outer rings. These brilliant red hues, located not only throughout the Cartwheel, but also the companion spiral galaxy at the top left, are caused by glowing, hydrocarbon-rich dust. In this near- and mid-infrared composite image, MIRI data are colored red while NIRCam data are colored blue, orange, and yellow. Amidst the red swirls of dust, there are many individual blue dots, which represent individual stars or pockets of star formation. NIRCam also defines the difference between the older star populations and dense dust in the core and the younger star populations outside of it.

Community

Two groups will guide the GOMAP activities for HWO: a Science, Technology, Architecture Review Team (START) and a Technical Assessment Group (TAG).

GOMAP will focus on several key early activities to ensure future flagship telescopes, starting with HWO, are developed on a predictable cost and schedule while minimizing risks of overruns. GOMAP’s coordinated activities will ensure the scope of HWO is clearly defined, will advance the technologies that will enable HWO to deliver its revolutionary science, and plan additional steps for long-term preparation.

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Two Guiding Teams

Two groups will guide the GOMAP activities for HWO: a Science, Technology, Architecture Review Team (START) and a Technical Assessment Group (TAG). Each will liaise with the broader science, technology, and engineering community to help establish the concept’s fundamental science goals and explore how best to pursue them. NASA had solicited self-nominations for the START (nominations were accepted until June 5, 2023).

The START will quantify HWO’s science objectives based on the Decadal Survey’s guidance and outline the observatory and instrument capabilities needed to accomplish them. The START co-chairs are:

Courtney Dressing, University of California, Berkeley
John O’Meara, W. M. Keck Observatory

The TAG will identify and assess mission architecture options and aerospace landscape opportunities that may change the approach to HWO’s development, and assess the risks associated with each option and approach. The TAG co-chairs are:

Bertrand Mennesson, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Aki Roberge, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Lee Feinberg, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
John Ziemer, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The full list of START and TAG members is available here.

Working Groups

The START and TAG are setting up Working Groups and Subgroups to conduct their work. The list of Working Groups is continuing to grow and evolve, but the current version is available online.

Members of the scientific community may volunteer to join a working group by filling out this form. Note that participation in some TAG-associated Working Groups is limited to U.S. citizens and green card holders.