Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope to explore the Spiderweb protocluster, a massive galaxy cluster located 10 billion light-years from Earth. The $10 billion space telescope has revealed new galaxies in this early-stage of formation, which contains around 100 known galaxies.
The JWST observed the Spiderweb protocluster as it was around 4 billion years after the Big Bang, providing insights into the growth and evolution of the universe. By studying these “cosmic cities,” researchers can understand how galaxies gather and interact with each other.
According to team member Jose M. Pérez-Martínez, “We are observing the build-up of one the largest structures in the universe, a city of galaxies in construction.” The telescope allowed researchers to reveal previously hidden regions of the Spiderweb protocluster by piercing through the cosmic gas and dust that surrounds it with long-wave infrared light.
The team discovered new galaxy cluster members, including some that were not expected to be as obscured or dust-filled. This surprises, as previous studies suggested that typical star-forming galaxies like our Milky Way would be heavily affected by dust and gas. Instead, researchers found that the growth of these galaxies might be fueled by gas accumulating at different locations across the object’s large-scale structure.
The incredible power of the JWST demonstrated its ability to achieve impressive results with just 3.5 hours of observing time. The team’s findings provide new insights into the build-up of massive galaxy clusters and their role in shaping the universe.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/james-webb-space-telescope-spiderweb