Stunning photograph of spiral galaxy M51 named as JWST's top image of 2023

This image of the spiral galaxy M51 has been named the top James Webb Space Telescope image of 2023 by the public.

A World Cup-style knockout poll on the Webb Telescope Twitter feed produced the result – with the image of M51 beating other impressive pictures taken by the revolutionary instrument last year.

Launched in December 2021, Webb began releasing its first full-colour images in July 2022. The image shows the elegant, sinuous arms of the grand-design spiral galaxy M51. In contrast to the array of peculiar spiral galaxies featuring uneven or disrupted spiral arms, grand-design spiral galaxies exhibit prominent, well-defined spiral arms, as depicted in this captivating image. The galactic portrait was skillfully captured by Webb’s Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI).

Within this image, the reprocessed stellar light interacts with dust grains and molecules in the galaxy’s medium, illuminating a dramatic filamentary structure. Alternating empty cavities and bright filaments create the illusion of ripples emanating from the spiral arms. The yellow compact regions signify newly formed star clusters within the galaxy.

M51, also identified as NGC 5194, is situated approximately 27 million light-years away from Earth in the Canes Venatici constellation. It is engaged in a tumultuous relationship with its nearby companion, the dwarf galaxy NGC 5195.