For the first time, JWST reveals the closest known interacting dwarf-dwarf galaxy pair, NGC 4490 and NGC 4485 (Arp 269), connected by a dramatic 50,000-light-year tidal bridge of gas and newborn stars. Located just 24 million light-years away, this system is the best local laboratory we have for understanding how small galaxies merged and grew in the early Universe.Thanks to Webb’s NIRCam and MIRI instruments, we can now resolve individual star clusters along the bridge and confirm two distinct starburst episodes – one 200 million years ago during closest approach, and a second intense burst only 30 million years ago.These observations, part of the FEAST program (PI: Angela Adamo), are already reshaping our models of galaxy assembly and extreme stellar feedback. Learn more here.
