The Cosmic Question Mark

When the James Webb Space Telescope captured what looks like a bright orange question mark hovering in space, many declared the photo a hoax prompted by congressional hearings on UFOs and the ensuing social media chatter over the past two months. But Webb scientists say the photo is no hoax.

In fact, the question mark image is only a small corner of a larger series of infrared images that capture a tightly bound pair of actively forming stars known as Herbig-Haro 46/47 that are surrounded by a disc of gas and dust with outlying galaxies and stars in the background. The question mark shape falls at the bottom of the frame and likely is an image of two or more galaxies merging:

"It looks like a chance alignment of two or three galaxies," says Kai Noeske, communication program officer for the European Space Agency (ESA). "The upper part of the question mark looks like a distorted spiral galaxy, maybe merging with a second galaxy."

Galaxy mergers are normal phases in the evolution of galaxies -- a common astrophysical phenomenon, says ESA study scientist Nora Luetzgendorf. Luetzgendorf confirmed that the arc of the question mark may come from a tidal collision of two galaxies, and the dot at the bottom of the question mark may be a smaller spherical galaxy.

According to Webb project scientist Macarena Garcia Marin, the photo is an example of how Webb images continually bring unexpected surprises:

"I think we all enjoy finding familiar shapes in the sky; that creates a deep connection between our human-experience and language, in this case, and the beauty of the universe surrounding us," Garcia Marin said. "I think this exemplifies the human need for exploration and wonder, and to me it brings the question of how many other interesting objects are out there waiting to be explored with Webb!"

How often do we assign meaning when none is intended or ignore a smaller message because we are looking for something more obvious? We all tend to categorize and problem-solve before we hear the larger story, which can lead to assumptions, presumptions, and misunderstandings in so many areas of our lives.

What question marks have you spotted this fall, assuming punctuation when actually two galaxies are slowly colliding? How can you broaden your view this week to allow for the unexpected? What if we lead lives of discovery rather than definition, of learning rather than advocating?

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are humans that you are mindful of them,
    mortals that you care for them?

-- Psalm 8:3-4

Blessings on your first day of fall!

Jennie