**_Galaxy Cluster MACS J1149 in Leo: Over 300 Galaxies | James Webb Space Telescope_** This NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope picture brings us a scene from the distant Universe. Pictured here is the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223, or MACS J1149 for short. It is located about 5 billion light-years away in the constellation Leo. Galaxy clusters are the largest structures in the Universe that are held together by gravity. Astronomers have confirmed more than 300 galaxies belonging to the MACS J1149 cluster, and they have identified several hundred more possible members. At the cluster’s center, a huddle of ghostly elliptical galaxies rules over the cluster with their immense gravity. The crushing gravity of this cluster does more than just hold all the galaxies together as they drift through space. As light from galaxies located behind the cluster makes its way toward our telescope, journeying for billions of years, its path through spacetime is bent by the mass of the intervening galaxies. This phenomenon is called gravitational lensing, and the result is evident in this image of MACS J1149; scattered across the image are subtle and not-so-subtle examples of gravitational lensing, from galaxies that appear to have been stretched into narrow streaks of light to galaxy images that have morphed into strange shapes. A fantastic example of gravitational lensing can be seen near the center of the image, just below the brilliant white galaxies at the heart of the cluster. There, the image of a galaxy with distinct spiral arms has been stretched into something resembling a pink jellyfish. This tangled-looking galaxy is home to what was once the most distant single star ever discovered as well as a supernova whose image appeared four times at once. MACS J1149 has long received the celebrity treatment from leading telescopes, and for good reason. This cluster was one of six investigated through the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope’s Frontier Fields programme. The Frontier Fields galaxy clusters were selected for the strength of their gravitational lensing, and their ability to warp spacetime has granted researchers a glimpse into the early Universe. Now, Webb is pushing our knowledge horizon to even earlier times, enabling new discoveries like a feasting supermassive black hole less than 600 million years after the Big Bang. Using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam), and Near-InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS), researchers are revealing never-before-seen details of the lives of early galaxies. The Webb data used to create this image were collected as part of the CAnadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) programme #1208 (PI: C. J. Willott). This programme uses Webb’s sensitive instruments to unveil the evolution of low-mass galaxies in the early Universe, revealing their star formation, dust and chemistry. These data will also help researchers study the epoch of reionization, when the first stars and galaxies lit up the Universe, map the distribution of mass within galaxy clusters, and understand how star formation can slow to a trickle in a cluster environment. _Image Description:_ A Webb image of many glowing galaxies in deep space, in various shapes and colors, on a black background. There are large, blue spiral galaxies, large and pale white elliptical galaxies, and many orange and red, medium-sized galaxies. Even smaller galaxies, down to tiny faint spots, appear in all these colors. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, C. Willott (National Research Council Canada), R. Tripodi (INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Rome) Duration: 30 seconds Release Date: Jan. 22, 2026 #NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #GravitationalLensing #Galaxies #GalaxyClusters #MACSJ1149 #Astrophysics #CANUCSProgramme #Cosmos #Universe #SpaceTelescopes #JWST #InfraredAstronomy #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Researchers reveal rare proton-rich isotope origins beyond iron. Artemis Tsantiri leads study at FRIB, University of Regina. New insights on p-nuclei formation in cosmos.

... Научные детские площадки. Подписывайтесь на наш канал в MAX. Подписаться ... Результаты <b>исследования</b> опубликованы в журнале Solar System Research. Ссылка: **https://xn--80aa3ak5a.xn--p1ai/news/astronomy-izuchili-morfologiyu-poverkhnosti-trekh-okolopolyarnykh-kraterov-luny/** Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus ### About MAGISTER ## RELATED POSTS

Dark Energy Survey Collaboration reveals tight constraints on universe's expansion history from 6 years of data on galaxies using Dark Energy Camera at CTIO.

**_NASA’s Day of Remembrance 2026_** NASA’s annual Day of Remembrance pays tribute to all members of the NASA family who lost their lives in the pursuit of exploration and discovery, including test pilots, the Apollo 1 crew, and the crews of space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Challenger. On Jan. 22, 2026, we pause to honor their memory and reflect on the importance of maintaining a strong safety culture. Visit our Day of Remembrance tribute page: https://nasa.gov/dor Video Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Producers: Sonnet Apple Duration: 2 minutes, 30 seconds Release Date: Jan. 22, 2026 #NASA #Space #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #Astronomy #Science #NASARemembers #Astronauts #Apollo1 #SpaceShuttleChallenger #STS51L #SpaceShuttleColumbia #STS107 #Scientists #Engineers #Technicians #Heroes #Leaders #SafetyCulture #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #America #UnitedStates #History #STEM #Education #HD #Video

International research team discovers extraordinary quasar with fast-growing supermassive black hole in early universe. Subaru Telescope observations reveal unique features challenging theoretical models.

Research into Jupiter’s moons shows Io and Europa did not evolve apart but formed with opposite compositions from the beginning.

Научный коллектив лаборатории астрохимических исследований Уральского федерального университета совершил прорывное открытие: ученые обнаружили в межзвездных льдах «веселящий газ» — закись азота (N2O). Исследование описано в журнале Astronomy and Astrophysics. Работу поддержал Российский научный фонд (проект № 23-12-00315). «Мы обнаружили закись азота во льдах в направлении 16 протозвезд из 50 проанализированных нами. Содержание N2O в этих протозвездах варьируется в […]

Космонавтика и астрофизика Вернём романтику в космос! Мы в других соцсетях: taplink.cc/procosmosru Чат: @realprocosmoschat Телеграм-пьеса о 12 апреля 1961 года: https://t.me/yurygagarinchat/4

Nature Astronomy - The extended family of the Seven Sisters

**_Stellar Debris Discs: 'Planetary_**** _Leftovers'_****_around Stars | ESO_** The rings in this picture are debris discs—the leftovers of planet formation around other stars. Even our Solar System has a debris disc, known as the Kuiper Belt, where numerous asteroids and comets encircle the Sun beyond Neptune’s orbit. It is believed that the influence of large planets, like Neptune, prevented the dust and pebbles in this region from clumping together and forming larger bodies. Therefore, debris discs can be seen as remnants of planetary formation, and studying those around other stars is key to understanding the birth of planetary systems. _Image Description_ : A 5x6 array of astronomical images of debris discs, shaped like rings. Several are thin rings, others are wider and have gaps within them. Other discs are face-on or more inclined. Most discs are orange, except those on the rightmost column that are blue. Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a team of astronomers has obtained high-resolution images of 24 debris discs around other stars. The orange images in this picture show the distribution of dust in these discs, and the blue ones the distribution of gas in six of them. The origin of gas in debris discs is under debate. It could be leftover primordial gas that was present around the star from the beginning, or gas released later on as dust grains collided with each other. The debris disc around the star HD 121617, shown here in the two images at the top-right, is very interesting in this regard. The dust ring (orange) is brighter on one side, indicating a higher concentration of dust grains there. The team found that a vortex of gas could trap dust particles there, but only if the density of gas is very high. Such a high density of gas would be more consistent with this gas being of primordial origin. Further analysis of the full sample of debris discs will tell us more about the secrets of these precious rings. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Marino et al. Release Date: Jan. 20, 2026 #NASA #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarHD121617 #CircumstellarMaterial #DebrisDiscs #CircumstellarGas #CircumstellarDust #Protoplanets #Exoplanets #Planets #SolarSystem #KuiperBelt #Cosmos #Universe #ALMA #RadioAstronomy #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Direct images of supermassive black holes M87* and Sag A* revealed. Potential limits on observable black holes unless radio astronomy advances significantly.

Astronomers discover new open cluster companion to Czernik 38 in Cairo, Egypt. Research published on arXiv pre-print server by NRIAG scientists.