NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured images of a galaxy exhibiting dual characteristics, leading scientists to dub it the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ galaxy. Officially known as Markarian 1018, this galaxy is located approximately 555 million light-years from Earth.
The galaxy’s unusual characteristics were first noticed in the 1980s when it was found to have a bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN), a characteristic of Seyfert galaxies. AGNs are known for their high-energy emissions, largely due to the supermassive black holes at their centers. However, Markarian 1018’s AGN dimmed in the late 1990s, causing it to lose its Seyfert status. Then, in 2015, the AGN reignited, regaining its Seyfert classification.
This switching nature of Markarian 1018 is what led to its ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ nickname. The cause of this fluctuation is thought to be due to a change in the rate of matter falling into the black hole at the galaxy’s center. It was also discovered that Markarian 1018 is a “changing-look” galaxy, a rare type of galaxy that shows substantial changes in its appearance over time.
The JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) has been instrumental in studying Markarian 1018. MIRI is capable of observing in the mid-infrared part of the spectrum, which allows it to see through dust and gas to capture detailed images of galaxies. The data received from MIRI has contributed significantly to understanding this galaxy’s unique behavior.
The findings from the JWST about Markarian 1018 provide valuable information about how galaxies evolve and the behavior of supermassive black holes. The James Webb Space Telescope, a joint venture between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, has been a crucial tool in this endeavor. Launched in December 2021, one of its primary objectives has been to study the structure and composition of galaxies.
The observations of Markarian 1018 are part of a larger study known as JWST’s Guaranteed Time Observation (GTO) program. Under this program, scientists involved in the development of the space telescope’s instruments are given dedicated observation time. This allows them to conduct detailed studies and deepen our understanding of the universe.
Understanding the dual nature of galaxies like Markarian 1018 could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms driving galactic evolution and the behavior of supermassive black holes. As JWST continues its observations, it is expected to uncover more such fascinating aspects of our universe.
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