Webb Revisits the Hubble Ultra Deep Field

In one of the most famous regions of the night sky, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the James Webb Space Telescope provides a stunning new look at the distant universe. Using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Webb reveals thousands of galaxies, some among the earliest ever formed. This image combines nearly 100 hours of observations from MIRI’s deepest survey to date, known as the MIRI Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS). More than 2,500 galaxies appear in this tiny patch of sky, including hundreds of extremely red galaxies that may be massive, dust-filled systems or ancient galaxies rich with mature stars. Warm orange and red tones show light from dusty or active galaxies, while blue and cyan hues reveal nearer systems bright in near-infrared light. By returning to this legendary field first explored by Hubble, Webb uncovers hidden galaxies and offers new insight into how the earliest cosmic structures formed.