The galaxy, called Messier 77 (M77), is located 45 million light-years from Earth in the Cetus constellation, according to the European Space Agency,<\/a> which partners with NASA on the James Webb Space Telescope mission.<\/p>\n A single light-year is approximately 6 trillion miles.<\/p>\n The new image was captured using infrared technology and reveals the shape and structure of M77 \u2014 known as the Squid Galaxy due to its curling \u201ctentacles\u201d \u2014 more clearly than ever.<\/p>\n The center of M77 consists of a supermassive black hole <\/a>that is eight million times more massive than the Sun. As gas spirals rapidly around the black hole, it heats up and releases enormous amounts of energy and radiation.<\/p>\n M77 is also frequently forming new stars, meaning it is constantly changing and evolving.<\/p>\n There are four types of identifiable galaxies: spiral, barred spiral, elliptical and irregular. Approximately 60% of all galaxies are believed to be spiral galaxies (including the Milky Way, which contains Earth), and spiral galaxies contain most of the stars in the universe, per ESA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n A pair of gravitationally interacting galaxies called Arp 147, photographed on October 27-28, 2008 The Webb Telescope was first launched into space in December 2021 and orbits the Sun<\/a> at a distance of 1 million miles from Earth, according to NASA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Information gathered by the telescope gives scientists around the world insight into a wide range of mysteries about the universe, including the Big Bang, the formation of solar systems and the possibility of life beyond Earth.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3e613fdd5ac6cd8d1c3291236265c62a.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: LIVIO\/NASA-ESA\/AFP via Getty<\/p>\n