The James Webb Space Telescope has captured stunning images of a gigantic spiral galaxy that shouldn’t exist. This galaxy, dubbed the Big Wheel, is estimated to be 2 billion years old and spans nearly 98,000 light years across – comparable in size to our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Experts are baffled by its rapid growth, considering it’s young compared to most galaxies.
According to astronomers, the Big Wheel’s size suggests it should have been much older, leading researchers to question how it achieved such rapid expansion. A possible explanation is that multiple galaxies collided and merged in quick succession to form one large galaxy, accelerated by the galaxy’s dense surroundings. This theory proposes that the galaxy experienced mergers with minimal disruption, allowing its spiral disk shape to remain intact.
The discovery presents a puzzling question: how did this massive galaxy manage to grow so quickly? Further research is needed to determine if galaxies like the Big Wheel are rare or common. If they’re not as uncommon as thought, experts may need to reevaluate their understanding of galaxy formation and the Big Bang theory.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14507881/james-webb-space-telescope-reveals-giant-galaxy-big-wheel.html