NGC 1087

This spiral galaxy was observed as part of the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby GalaxieS (PHANGS) programme, a large project that includes observations from several space- and ground-based telescopes of many galaxies to help researchers study all phases of the star formation cycle, from the formation of stars within dusty gas clouds to the energy released in the process that creates the intricate structures revealed by Webb’s new images.

NGC 1087 is 80 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus.

Learn more about what can be seen in this vast collection of Webb images here.

[Image description: Webb’s image of NGC 1087 shows a densely populated face-on spiral galaxy anchored by a central region that takes the shape of a short line. Its filamentary orange spiral arms appear muddled together and it is difficult to pick out individual spiral arms. The arms extend to the edges and rotate clockwise.]