Planetary nebula, NGC 1514

Webb is "running rings" around this planetary nebula, NGC 1514, bringing it into sharp focus with this new mid-infrared look. At the center are a pair of stars, one of which shed its layers of dust and gas as it neared the end of its life cycle.

 Planetary nebulae like these are so-called because they looked like round planets through early telescopes. This nebula has been observed at least since the late 1800s, including by astronomer William Herschel, who also discovered the planet Uranus. We’ve come a long way since, with Webb’s mid-infrared view being the most detailed view of a planetary nebula to date (slide 1). To Herschel it looked cloudy. Fast forward 200 years, in 2010, the infrared WISE telescope caught this view (slide 2), which does show its rings but lacks the crisp detail Webb is now able to provide in 2025.

Butterfly Nebula NGC 6302 (Webb and ALMA image)

Webb got close in with the inner workings of the Butterfly Nebula, previously captured by Hubble in 2009, giving us a new and unprecedented view. Webb’s infrared data, supplemented by radio data from Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) specifically looks at the central region of the nebula and the complex structure of the gas and dust that surrounds it.

 Planetary nebulas were so-named because they are typically round and resembled planets in early telescopes. However, they are actually formed by dying Sun-like stars shedding their layers. This planetary nebula is not round, but has two lobes that make it resemble a butterfly. This is likely due to a doughnut-shaped torus of gas and dust that may be preventing gas from flowing outward in all directions. This torus is oriented vertically and nearly edge-on from our perspective. It intersects with bubbles of gas (in red) enclosing the star. Jets (in blue) shoot off in opposite directions.

Solar Eclipse 

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow that partially or fully blocks the Sun's light in certain regions. This celestial alignment happens during the new moon phase, but only about twice a year when the Moon's tilted orbit crosses the Earth-Sun plane.

A.I. Generated Cloud

Planetary nebula, NGC 1514

Webb is "running rings" around this planetary nebula, NGC 1514, bringing it into sharp focus with this new mid-infrared look. At the center are a pair of stars, one of which shed its layers of dust and gas as it neared the end of its life cycle.

 Planetary nebulae like these are so-called because they looked like round planets through early telescopes. This nebula has been observed at least since the late 1800s, including by astronomer William Herschel, who also discovered the planet Uranus. We’ve come a long way since, with Webb’s mid-infrared view being the most detailed view of a planetary nebula to date (slide 1). To Herschel it looked cloudy. Fast forward 200 years, in 2010, the infrared WISE telescope caught this view (slide 2), which does show its rings but lacks the crisp detail Webb is now able to provide in 2025.

Butterfly Nebula NGC 6302 (Webb and ALMA image)

Webb got close in with the inner workings of the Butterfly Nebula, previously captured by Hubble in 2009, giving us a new and unprecedented view. Webb’s infrared data, supplemented by radio data from Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) specifically looks at the central region of the nebula and the complex structure of the gas and dust that surrounds it.

 Planetary nebulas were so-named because they are typically round and resembled planets in early telescopes. However, they are actually formed by dying Sun-like stars shedding their layers. This planetary nebula is not round, but has two lobes that make it resemble a butterfly. This is likely due to a doughnut-shaped torus of gas and dust that may be preventing gas from flowing outward in all directions. This torus is oriented vertically and nearly edge-on from our perspective. It intersects with bubbles of gas (in red) enclosing the star. Jets (in blue) shoot off in opposite directions.

Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow that partially or fully blocks the Sun's light in certain regions. This celestial alignment happens during the new moon phase, but only about twice a year when the Moon's tilted orbit crosses the Earth-Sun plane.

NGC 1068 (Webb + Chandra + VLA + Hubble)

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 IC 1623 is a system where two galaxies are in the process of merging. As the galaxies collide, they trigger new bursts of star formation that glow dramatically in certain kinds of light. The merging galaxies may also be in the process of forming a supermassive black hole.

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 NGC 1068 is a relatively nearby spiral galaxy containing a black hole at its center that is twice as massive as the Milky Way’s. Chandra shows a million-mile-per-hour wind is being driven from NGC 1068’s black hole and lighting up the center of the galaxy in X-rays.

 X-rays from Chandra (blue), radio data from NSF’s VLA radio data (pink), and optical data from Hubble and Webb (yellow, grey and gold)

IC 1623 (Webb + Chandra)

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 IC 1623 is a system where two galaxies are in the process of merging. As the galaxies collide, they trigger new bursts of star formation that glow dramatically in certain kinds of light. The merging galaxies may also be in the process of forming a supermassive black hole.

Cosmic Filament

 A cosmic filament is a massive, thread-like structure of dark matter and galaxies, forming the largest known features in the universe and the backbone of the "cosmic web" that connects galaxy clusters. These filaments act as cosmic highways, channeling gas and matter, fueling star formation, and influencing galaxy spin, with recent discoveries showing them spinning like giant corkscrews, pulling in surrounding galaxies. 

Saturn

 is the second-largest planet in our solar system and is classified as a gas giant primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. It is famous for its extensive ring system made of billions of chunks of ice, rock, and dust. the second-largest planet in our solar system and is classified as a gas giant primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.

It is famous for its extensive ring system made of billions of chunks of ice, rock, and dust.

As of 2026, it has 274 confirmed moons, more than any other planet. Its largest moon, Titan, is bigger than Mercury and features a thick atmosphere and liquid methane lakes.

NGC 1068 (Webb + Chandra + VLA + Hubble)

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 IC 1623 is a system where two galaxies are in the process of merging. As the galaxies collide, they trigger new bursts of star formation that glow dramatically in certain kinds of light. The merging galaxies may also be in the process of forming a supermassive black hole.

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 NGC 1068 is a relatively nearby spiral galaxy containing a black hole at its center that is twice as massive as the Milky Way’s. Chandra shows a million-mile-per-hour wind is being driven from NGC 1068’s black hole and lighting up the center of the galaxy in X-rays.

 X-rays from Chandra (blue), radio data from NSF’s VLA radio data (pink), and optical data from Hubble and Webb (yellow, grey and gold)

IC 1623 (Webb + Chandra)

A new eye-catching compilation of images is being released that features data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory along with a host of other telescopes including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

 IC 1623 is a system where two galaxies are in the process of merging. As the galaxies collide, they trigger new bursts of star formation that glow dramatically in certain kinds of light. The merging galaxies may also be in the process of forming a supermassive black hole.

Cosmic Filament 

A cosmic filament is a massive, thread-like structure of dark matter and galaxies, forming the largest known features in the universe and the backbone of the "cosmic web" that connects galaxy clusters. These filaments act as cosmic highways, channeling gas and matter, fueling star formation, and influencing galaxy spin, with recent discoveries showing them spinning like giant corkscrews, pulling in surrounding galaxies. 

Saturn

 is the second-largest planet in our solar system and is classified as a gas giant primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. It is famous for its extensive ring system made of billions of chunks of ice, rock, and dust. the second-largest planet in our solar system and is classified as a gas giant primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.

It is famous for its extensive ring system made of billions of chunks of ice, rock, and dust.

As of 2026, it has 274 confirmed moons, more than any other planet. Its largest moon, Titan, is bigger than Mercury and features a thick atmosphere and liquid methane lakes.