Planetary Nebula NGC 1514: WISE vs Webb Images

The James Webb Space Telescope gives stunning clarity and depth to planetary nebula NGC 1514. Also known as the Crystal Ball Nebula, NGC 1514 is a matrix of gas and dust cast from the outer layers of dying star about 2,300 light years from Earth. This visualization compares Webb’s observations of the nebula with those captured by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a space-based observatory launched in 2009 that maps the entire night sky in infrared light. Unlike WISE, Webb is designed for precision. Webb’s 6.5-meter primary mirror provides an impressive jump in resolution — and the observatory’s multi-spectral science instruments capture light across a wider range of electromagnetic wavelengths. This image is a composite of multiple exposures captured by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The exposures are color-coded and processed as one image, revealing details hidden in the colorful interior of the Crystal Ball Nebula for the first time.

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The James Webb Space Telescope gives stunning clarity and depth to planetary nebula NGC 1514. Also known as the Crystal Ball Nebula, NGC 1514 is a matrix of gas and dust cast from the outer layers of dying star about 2,300 light years from Earth. This visualization compares Webb’s observations of the nebula with those captured by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), a space-based observatory launched in 2009 that maps the entire night sky in infrared light. Unlike WISE, Webb is designed for precision. Webb’s 6.5-meter primary mirror provides an impressive jump in resolution — and the observatory’s multi-spectral science instruments capture light across a wider range of electromagnetic wavelengths. This image is a composite of multiple exposures captured by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). The exposures are color-coded and processed as one image, revealing details hidden in the colorful interior of the Crystal Ball Nebula for the first time.