PHANGS–JWST First Results: The Dust Filament Network of NGC 628 and Its Relation to Star Formation Activity

Abstract PHANGS–JWST mid-infrared (MIR) imaging of nearby spiral galaxies has revealed ubiquitous filaments dust emission in intricate detail. We present a pilot study to systematically map the filament network (DFN) at multiple scales between 25 and 400 pc NGC 628. MIRI images 7.7, 10, 11.3, 21 ? m 628 are used generate maps emission, while PHANGS–HST B -band yields attenuation features. quantify correspondence traced by MIR thermal continuum/polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) detected via extinction/scattering visible light; fraction flux contained DFN; H ii regions, young star clusters, associations within DFN. examine dependence these quantities on physical scale which DFN is extracted. With our highest-resolution (25 width), we find that cospatial 40% sight lines, often exhibiting detailed morphological agreement; ?30% associated with 75%–80% formation regions 60% mass clusters younger than 5 Myr However, this anticorrelated looser stars identified using near-UV imaging. discuss impact findings studies interstellar medium, broad range new investigations enabled multiscale