JWST Phantom Galaxy

If this image from Webb’s mid-infrared instrument (MIRI) looks dark and moody, that's because things look different in mid-infrared light than in visible, ultraviolet, or near-infrared light — the wavelengths you may be more used to seeing from Hubble, Webb and other space telescopes.

These are the "bones” of galaxy IC 5332, usually hidden by dust. In mid-infrared light, Webb is able to peer through that dust and see the patterns of gas spread throughout the galaxy.

Webb only has one instrument that’s able to see in mid-infrared, making MIRI cool in more ways than one. MIRI’s cryocooler, a special refrigerator, helps keep it just a few degrees shy of absolute zero, the lowest possible temperature!