New Webb image captures clearest view of Neptune's rings in decades
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:19 am
This Webb image, dubbed First Deep Field, features galaxy cluster SMACS 0723. Joe Biden unveiled it in July during a White House press briefing.
The image covers “a patch of sky approximately the size of a grain of sand, held at arm’s length by someone on the ground,” per NASA, “and reveals thousands of galaxies in a tiny sliver of vast universe.”
A clear view of Neptune’s rings
NASA
The Webb is credited with capturing the clearest view of Neptune’s rings in 30 years.
In September, NASA released this image showing the ice giant like never before.
“It has been three decades since we last saw these faint, dusty rings, and this is the first time we’ve seen them in the infrared,” said Heidi Hammel, Neptune system expert and interdisciplinary scientist for Webb per NASA.
What asteroids really look like
Deep space travel
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Part of the first image from Webb was used in this composition telegram database which features asteroids sitting beside galaxies.
“Thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared – have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time,” said NASA of the image used to create this composition.
The abyss stares back
Southern Ring Nebula
Space Telescope Science Institute
This Webb image, known as Southern Ring Nebula, includes a planetary nebula that is about 2,500 light years away, according to NASA.
NASA added that the image features a dimmer star that has been emitting both rings of dust and gas for thousands of years.
Webb findings reveal the star is cloaked in dust.
The image covers “a patch of sky approximately the size of a grain of sand, held at arm’s length by someone on the ground,” per NASA, “and reveals thousands of galaxies in a tiny sliver of vast universe.”
A clear view of Neptune’s rings
NASA
The Webb is credited with capturing the clearest view of Neptune’s rings in 30 years.
In September, NASA released this image showing the ice giant like never before.
“It has been three decades since we last saw these faint, dusty rings, and this is the first time we’ve seen them in the infrared,” said Heidi Hammel, Neptune system expert and interdisciplinary scientist for Webb per NASA.
What asteroids really look like
Deep space travel
Getty Images/iStockphoto
Part of the first image from Webb was used in this composition telegram database which features asteroids sitting beside galaxies.
“Thousands of galaxies – including the faintest objects ever observed in the infrared – have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time,” said NASA of the image used to create this composition.
The abyss stares back
Southern Ring Nebula
Space Telescope Science Institute
This Webb image, known as Southern Ring Nebula, includes a planetary nebula that is about 2,500 light years away, according to NASA.
NASA added that the image features a dimmer star that has been emitting both rings of dust and gas for thousands of years.
Webb findings reveal the star is cloaked in dust.