A team of astronomers has made a groundbreaking discovery, finding Zhúlóng, the most distant spiral galaxy ever seen. Dating back 1 billion years after the Big Bang, Zhúlóng defies expectations with its mature spiral structure, which shouldn’t exist so early in the universe’s history.
The finding challenges the long-held belief that complex galaxies take billions of years to form. Instead, it suggests the universe may have evolved faster than previously thought. The discovery also provides insight into the formation of galaxies like our own Milky Way, hinting at a possible explanation for why such structures are rare in the early universe.
The mix of old and young stars in Zhúlóng indicates that mature, stable galaxies could appear earlier than scientists expected. Understanding this ancient galaxy’s properties may reveal how galaxies formed and why certain structures emerged during the universe’s chaotic period.
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/astronomers-discover-ancient-twin-of-the-milky-way