{"date":"2026-09-16","post_id":1339001,"title":"Webb's View of M64","permalink":"https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-16-webbs-view-of-m64/","media_type":"image","explanation":"Explanation: Sometimes where Hubble finds darkness, Webb sees light. An example is today\u2019s composite images of Messier 64 (M64), a nearby spiral galaxy of many names. The dark band of dust partially blocking its bright core earned it the moniker \u201cthe Black Eye Galaxy.\u201d Webb\u2019s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) sees that dust, shown in red, as it absorbs and re-emits light from surrounding newborn stars. These young stars are embedded in pink star-forming regions in the Hubble-only image. M64\u2019s inner and outer gas regions counter-rotate, creating regions of increased star formation where the two gas \u201ccurrents\u201d meet and compress. A merger between M64 and a smaller galaxy was likely the cause of the opposing motion of the outer gas. Spiral galaxies were once thought to have peaceful histories. M64 was key evidence that spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way, can and do experience mergers. Webb\u2019s view of M64 will tell astronomers about the structure, motion, and composition of the galaxy\u2019s dust and add context to the galaxy\u2019s merger history and evolution.

APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod
Tomorrow's picture: treasure","credit":"NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (ESO), J. Lee (STScI), A. Leroy (OSU), and D. Thilker (JHU); Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University)","copyright":"NASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (ESO), J. Lee (STScI), A. Leroy (OSU), and D. Thilker (JHU); Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University)","alt":"Hubble and JWST image of M64. A massive spiral galaxy glows with a yellow core, surrounded by arms full of orange-brown dust and pink and blue patches of star formation. Framed by a haze of dark dust, the galaxy shines against black space dotted with a few stars.","url":"https://science.nasa.gov/image-article/apod-2026-september-16-webbs-view-of-m64/","hdurl":"https://assets.science.nasa.gov/dynamicimage/assets/science/cds/apod/apod/2026/september/M64_Webb.jpg?w=3853&h=4070&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint","basic_html":"\n\n\n\n\n APOD: 2026 September 16 - Webb's View of M64\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Astronomy Picture of the Day

\n\nDiscover the cosmos!\nEach day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is\nfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.\n

\n\n2026 September 16
\n\n\n $\"Hubble$ \n

\n\n\n Webb's View of M64
\n\nImage Credit &\nCopyright:\n\nNASA, CSA, ESA, F. Belfiore (ESO), J. Lee (STScI), A. Leroy (OSU), and D. Thilker (JHU); Processing: G. Kober (NASA/Catholic University)\n\n\n

\n\n Explanation: \n\nExplanation: Sometimes where Hubble finds darkness, Webb sees light. An example is today\u2019s composite images of Messier 64 (M64), a nearby spiral galaxy of many names. The dark band of dust partially blocking its bright core earned it the moniker \u201cthe Black Eye Galaxy.\u201d Webb\u2019s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) sees that dust, shown in red, as it absorbs and re-emits light from surrounding newborn stars. These young stars are embedded in pink star-forming regions in the Hubble-only image. M64\u2019s inner and outer gas regions counter-rotate, creating regions of increased star formation where the two gas \u201ccurrents\u201d meet and compress. A merger between M64 and a smaller galaxy was likely the cause of the opposing motion of the outer gas. Spiral galaxies were once thought to have peaceful histories. M64 was key evidence that spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way, can and do experience mergers. Webb\u2019s view of M64 will tell astronomers about the structure, motion, and composition of the galaxy\u2019s dust and add context to the galaxy\u2019s merger history and evolution.

APOD's main NASA site is moving: From apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod
Tomorrow's picture: treasure\n

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