Hubble image archive
MACS 0416 Mothra Pullout (Hubble ACS and WFC3 + Webb NIRCam Image)
This image of galaxy cluster MACS0416 highlights one particular gravitationally lensed background galaxy, which existed about 3 billion years after the big bang. That galaxy contains a transient, or object that varies in observed brightness over time, that the science team nickna...
- Date
- Nov 10, 2023
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-2023-146-01hdhhj07k7q299138s7qm6sqz
This image of galaxy cluster MACS0416 highlights one particular gravitationally lensed background galaxy, which existed about 3 billion years after the big bang. That galaxy contains a transient, or object that varies in observed brightness over time, that the science team nicknamed “Mothra.” Mothra is a star that is magnified by a factor of at least 4,000 times. The team believes that Mothra is magnified not only by the gravity of galaxy cluster MACS0416, but also by an object known as a “milli-lens” that likely weighs about as much as a globular star cluster.
Credits
Image
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Jose M. Diego (IFCA), Jordan C. J. D'Silva (UWA), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI), Jake Summers (ASU), Rogier Windhorst (ASU), Haojing Yan (University of Missouri)
Image Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | MACS J0416.1-2403 |
| Object Description | Lensing Galaxy Cluster |
| R.A. Position | 04:16:9.89 |
| Dec. Position | -24:03:58.0 |
| Constellation | Eridanus |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | This image was created with Hubble data from proposals (M. Postman), (J. Lotz), and (S. Rodney) as well as Webb data from proposals: and (R. Windhorst). Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) |
| Instrument | HST ACS & WFC3; JWST NIRCam |
| Exposure Dates | HST: July 2012 - Feb 2023 JWST: 7 Oct 2022, 29 Dec 2022, 10 Feb 2022 |
| Filters | HST ACS: F435W, F606W, F814W; WFC3/IR: F105W, F125W, F140W, F160W; JWST NIRCam: F090W, F115W, F150W, F200W, F277W, F356W, F410M, F444W |
| About The Image | |
| Color Info | These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the Hubble and Webb Space Telescopes using the ACS, WFC3, and NIRCam instruments. Multiple filters were used to sample broad and narrow wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are: Red: F444W and F410M, Orange: F356W, Yellow: F277W and F200W, Green: F160W, F150W, F140W, F125W, F115W, Cyan: F090W, F105W, F814W, Blue: F606W, F435W |
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Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
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