In this July 6, 2026 image, the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope reveals the nearby galaxy Centauri A, exposing the dusty structures and hidden activity that shape this unusual system.

Centaurus A is 11 million light years from Earth, relatively close in cosmic terms. However, unlike most nearby galaxies, it is very active, making it a powerful laboratory for understanding how galaxies and black holes grow and evolve together.

Explore the galaxy through an interactive map.

Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Macarena García Marín (ESA Office at STScI)