James Webb Telescope discovers 2,500 hidden galaxies in iconic Hubble image
This latest campaign focused on the MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS) region, where Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) was trained for nearly 100 hours using its three shortest-wavelength filters.Hello deep field, our old friend. We've come to look at you again!We last saw this region through @NASAHubble's eyes. Webb's view uncovers previously hidden galaxies and offers new insights into the formation of the first cosmic structures.https://t.co/WQpzSem4Oy pic.twitter.com/bQMo0fpH4W— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) August 1, 2025This marathon observation included Webb's longest-ever stare at an extragalactic field in a single filter, resulting in one of the deepest mid-infrared views of the cosmos to date. The data, combined with observations from Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), has allowed astronomers to probe the formation and evolution of galaxies over billions of years.In this fresh Webb image, more than 2,500 sources have been identified within the field, a confirmation to its extraordinary sensitivity and resolution. Among these are hundreds of extremely red galaxies, suspected to be massive, dust-obscured galaxies, or ancient galaxies populated by mature stars that formed soon after the dawn of the Universe.Webb's keen mid-infrared sharpness makes it possible to resolve details in the structure of these galaxies and understand how their light and energy are distributed, offering new clues about the growth and evolution of cosmic systems.The image's vibrant hues tell a deeper story: orange and red mark galaxies bright in the longest mid-infrared wavelengths, indicating rich dust content, intense star formation, or even the presence of a bright active galactic nucleus at the core.
The field shown here is known as the MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS) region. (Photo: ESA)
Greenish-white galaxies are especially distant, their light stretched by the Universe's expansion into the mid-infrared, marking them as high-redshift and ancient. Blue and cyan shades correspond to closer galaxies shining mainly in the near-infrared spectrum.By revisiting the legacy Hubble Ultra Deep Field, Webb not only honours its predecessor's tradition of deep exploration but pushes the boundaries further, uncovering new galaxies, exposing previously hidden cosmic features, and enriching our understanding of the earliest chapters in the story of the Universe.- EndsTrending Reel
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