Webb image archive
Bullet Cluster (Webb and Chandra Compass Image)
Caption This composite image of the Bullet Cluster combines near-infrared light from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), X-rays from NASA’s Cha...
- Date
- Jun 30, 2025
- Observatory
- James Webb Space Telescope
- Credit
- NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI
- Archive ID
- 01JXZT3CDAA1SDCRTR0ZYRHN9B
Caption
This composite image of the Bullet Cluster combines near-infrared light from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera), X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (shown in pink), and the inferred distribution of dark matter (mapped in blue). The two galaxy clusters that make up the Bullet Cluster appear within dashed circles. The image also shows compass arrows and a color key for reference.
The north and east compass arrows show the orientation of the image on the sky. Note that the relationship between north and east on the sky (as seen from below) is flipped relative to direction arrows on a map of the ground (as seen from above).
This image shows invisible near-infrared and X-ray wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. The color key shows which Webb NIRCam and Chandra filters were used when collecting the light. The color of each filter name is the visible light color used to represent the infrared and X-ray light that passes through that filter.
Read a full description of the image.
Credits
Image
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC
Science
James Jee (Yonsei University, UC Davis), Sangjun Cha (Yonsei University), Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC)