Free Astronomy Magazine September-October 2026

13 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026 ASTRO PUBLISHING tronomers to examine structures and processes that other telescopes could not see.” Webb’s mid-infrared vision high- lights the galaxy’s rich dust struc- tures, which glow in intricate shapes that surprise and even perplex as- tronomers. A warped, parallelo- gram-like band cuts across the gal- axy’s center, while wisps of material stretch outward like cosmic clouds. An “S” shaped feature, most no- table in the image fromWebb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), is also un- usual and invites questions that need further study to answer. What created this shape? How does the N ASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) reveals the nearby galaxy Centaurus A, exposing the dusty structures and hidden activity that shape this unusual system. Webb’s infrared vision unveils intricate filaments, loops, and glowing clouds of warm dust stretching across its center. At the heart of the galaxy, an actively feeding supermassive black hole shines brightly, surrounded by complex structures sculpted by a past galactic collision and ongoing activity. [NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Macarena Garcia Marin (ESA Office at STScI)] vealed large scale structures in the infrared without resolving individ- ual stars. Now, Webb brings both clarity and depth, exposing the galaxy’s inner workings star by star. “No single telescope tells the whole story,” said Shawn Domagal-Gold- man, division director, Astrophysics, NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Discoveries build over time and new observatories expand on the foundations laid by earlier missions. Webb represents the most powerful step forward yet, opening a window into wavelengths and details never before accessible. This allows as-