NASA has released a striking composite image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope, showcasing two overlapping spiral galaxies: IC 2163 and NGC 2207.
Located approximately 114 million light-years away in the Canis Major constellation, NGC 2207 is the larger and more massive galaxy, while IC 2163 is smaller. The gravitational forces of NGC 2207 have distorted IC 2163, creating long tidal tails stretching over 100,000 light-years.
IC 2163 is currently moving counterclockwise past NGC 2207, having made its closest approach 40 million years ago. Due to insufficient energy, IC 2163 will be pulled back into NGC 2207 in the future.
Astronomers noted that the vibrant colors in the image result from a combination of mid-infrared light from Webb and visible and ultraviolet light from Hubble. They are investigating potential evidence of their interaction at shock fronts where the galaxies may have collided.
The galaxies exhibit high star formation rates, producing around two dozen new solar-mass stars annually, compared to the Milky Way's two or three. Both galaxies have hosted seven known supernovae in recent decades, significantly higher than the Milky Way's average of one every 50 years.
Bright blue areas in Hubble's ultraviolet observations and pink and white regions from Webb's mid-infrared data indicate star-forming regions, known as superclusters. The upper spiral arm of NGC 2207 displays several examples of these star-forming areas.
Additionally, the upper and lower 'eyelids' of IC 2163 are rich in newly formed stars, glowing intensely.