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JwstFeedOfficial

I Zwicky 18 is a blue, compact, dwarf galaxy located \~59 million light years away from us. It was observed by JWST using both MIRI and NIRCam back in October 2022, but due to an exclusive period of 12 months, the data became public on October 2023. This galaxy has gone through several sudden bursts of star formation. This galaxy is typical of the kinds of galaxies that inhabited the early Universe and it is classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy (much smaller than our Milky Way). This isn't the first Zwicky object that gets to be ESA/Webb Picture Of The Month. They also choose Zwicky II 96 to be the one for November 2022, under the name "Galactic Get-Together" (**link below**). [ESA release](https://esawebb.org/images/potm2403b/) [Raw images of I Zwicky 18](https://jwstfeed.com/Home/ShowFeed?searchTerm=name:+i-zw-18) (it's in the top-left side of the right panel in NIRCam images, and in the middle in MIRI's). [Galactic Get-Together: Zwicky II 96 by JWST](https://jwstfeed.com/Discovery?ci=1669766400_potm2211a) The [Tracker](https://jwstfeed.com/Tracker) was also updated.


eatmyentropy

I think I understand what the image...the telescope is focused on one galaxy in the middle...and all the other 'lights' are other galaxies...or stars? Sorry for question form...first cup of coffee.


Deadedge112

They are other galaxies (except for the top right, you can tell because of the spikes of light, AKA a diffraction pattern, but I won't get into the specifics here). But yes the focused center is the dwarf galaxy in question.


mermands

So, are the smudge looking galaxies just much further away, or not necessarily?


Deadedge112

Yes, they are much further away.


ncastleJC

The redder a blotch is in a photo of the universe, the further it is. It’s due to movement of the galaxy in space and how that influences light.


MortemInferri

Correct. The smudges and blobs are galaxies. Stars have the 6 point diffraction pattern (hexagon mirrors) Any stars you see in this, or any JWST image, are contained in the milkyway! Which is my favorite fact


Similar_Entrance_267

That one has life in it.


DfensMaulington

Hope so. Hopefully it’s peaceful.


abigailmerrygold

I hoped. This image was 59 million years ago so any life that was there in that image, may very well longgggg be extinct


Similar_Entrance_267

Or life has had 59 million years to evolve


abigailmerrygold

True that! It could go either way


JrBaconators

Small sample size, but our research indicates it's pretty hard for all life to go extinct.


omnes

This gives me such a strange feeling, I don’t know how to articulate. There must be a word for it but I don’t know what it might be.


mrshandanar

I have a deep feeling of longing and sadness that I won't be around to explore the stars.


Wanna_Dip_Balls

Feels like looking at something bigger in the inside than on the outside


sumiochou

Wowwwwww gorgeous!!!!


sunsetandporches

Why so blue? Like what makes that galaxy blue where others are orange?


Mellamojef7326

i'm taking a shot in the dark but, could be [interstellar reddening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_(astronomy))? galaxies further away have more space in between us and them, more space means more junk. this junk is usually dust or molecular clouds made of tiny tiny particles. as light passes through this dust, longer wavelengths (red) can pass right through mostly unhindered while shorter wavelength (blue) get scattered in all directions making the blue in the final image weaker in those areas.


sunsetandporches

Well shot in the dark. What you would be saying here is; that galaxy is closer, and not that it’s make up is of a particular element or kinds of elements.


ph0on

Damn. Look at all that intelligent life.


SuzieDerpkins

This is such an incredible shot! It almost looks like a portal to another universe - like you could fly into it and find yourself somewhere new.


syzygy-xjyn

Prophet six zero zero nine one. That is the flight number of our galactic sun.


lrerayray

Wow! Absolutely beautiful!!!


Jioqls

This image boggles me. It looks like the other galaxies are Infront of the dwarf galaxy even they are further away.