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

The science and technology working groups will focus on several key early activities to guide the maturation of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Working Groups

The science and technology working groups' coordinated activities will ensure the scope of HWO is clearly defined, advance the technologies that will enable HWO to deliver its revolutionary science, and plan additional steps for long-term preparation.

The science groups will quantify HWO's science objectives using Astro2020's guidance, outline the observatory and instrument capabilities needed to accomplish these goals, and develop the science goals for the observatory.

The technology working groups will study the architecture options, identify and assess the mission architecture and technologies needed to enable these options, and evaluate the risks associated with these options.

The list of Working Groups is continuing to grow and evolve, but the current version is available in the graphic below.

A graphic showcasing the working groups for the Habitable Worlds Observatory.
The working groups for the Habitable Worlds Observatory fall into three categories: science, focusing on HWO's science objectives; technical, focusing on HWO's architecture options; and joint & community, focusing on the overlap in science and technology and community efforts like mentorship.
NASA GSFC/Aki Roberge

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NASA Selects Groups to Guide HWO Activities

NASA has selected 56 individuals to participate in groups that will guide maturation activities for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).

Learn More
A spiral galaxy with three prominent arms wrapping around it. The galaxy holds plenty of extra gas and dark dust between the arms. There are shining blue points throughout the arms and some patches of gas out beyond the galaxy’s edge, where stars are forming. The center of the galaxy also shines brightly. It is on a dark background where some small orange dots mark distant galaxies.
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The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

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