Stephan's Quintet

Webb's largest first-image mosaic; it resolves sweeping tails of gas and stars drawn out by gravitational interactions, and shock-heated gas as galaxies collide.

Instrument: NIRCam & MIRI · Near- and mid-infrared

• A dark field scattered with thousands of galaxies of many colours; several appear stretched into arcs by gravitational lensing.

  Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723

  Public Domain

  Webb's First Deep Field (SMACS 0723)

  NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

• A glowing, cliff-like edge of orange gas and dust below a starry blue expanse, with newborn stars sparkling throughout.

  Carina Nebula (NGC 3372)

  Public Domain

  Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula

  NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

• A shimmering shell of orange and blue gas expanding around a pair of central stars.

  Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132)

  Public Domain

  The Southern Ring Nebula

  NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

• A black field densely filled with thousands of galaxies of every size, colour, and shape.

  Hubble Ultra Deep Field

  Public Domain

  The Hubble Ultra Deep Field

  NASA, ESA, and STScI

• An edge-on galaxy with a bright bulging core and a dark, sharply defined dust lane, resembling a wide-brimmed hat.

  Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104)

  Public Domain

  The Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

  NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

• The bright band of the Milky Way arching over the domes of a mountaintop observatory under a dark sky.

  The Milky Way

  CC BY 4.0

  The Milky Way over Paranal

  ESO