Phantom Galaxy M74 Across the Spectrum - Composite

M74, also known as the Phantom Galaxy, shines at its brightest in this composite optical/mid-infrared image, featuring data from both the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. With Hubble’s optical view and Webb’s powerful infrared capabilities, a wide range of wavelengths are captured to create an image with remarkable depth. The red colors mark dust threaded through the arms of the galaxy, lighter oranges being areas of hotter dust. The young stars throughout the arms and the nuclear core are highlighted in blue. Heavier, older stars towards the galaxy’s center are shown in cyan and green, projecting an eerie glow from the core of the Phantom Galaxy. Bubbles of star formation are also visible in pink across the arms. Such a variety of galactic features is rare to see in a single image.