NASA shares stunning infrared image of spiral galaxy NGC 2566

On the 26th, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shared an infrared image of the spiral galaxy NGC 2566. The eight rays that appear to emanate from the center are not real; they are diffraction spikes created by the mechanical structure of the James Webb Space Telescope. This galaxy is located only 76 million light-years away (a light-year is the distance light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers). Thanks to this relatively close distance, it's possible to observe the intense gas, dust clouds, and regions where stars are born in this galaxy in detail with ground-based telescopes like the James Webb and Hubble. NGC 2566 is a beautiful galaxy similar in size to the Milky Way, featuring a bright central bar structure and distinct outer spiral arms.