Astronomers have detected oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0, the most distant known galaxy located 13.4 billion lightyears away. This ancient galaxy is 300 million years old when observed, offering insights into the chemical maturity of galaxies in the early Universe.
Two separate teams used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to detect oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0. The finding indicates that this galaxy formed rapidly and matured quickly, contradicting previous assumptions about the pace of galaxy formation.
The discovery reveals that even at 300 million years old, galaxies like JADES-GS-z14-0 had already accumulated heavy elements, such as oxygen. This challenges the long-held idea that the Universe was too young to support galaxies with substantial heavy element content.
The ALMA detection has also improved our understanding of the galaxy’s distance. By analyzing the redshift of the galaxy’s light, astronomers can determine how far away it is. The new measurements suggest JADES-GS-z14-0 is 13.8 billion years old, allowing researchers to refine their knowledge of distant galaxy properties.
The collaboration between ALMA and other telescopes demonstrates the synergy between these instruments in revealing the formation and evolution of ancient galaxies.
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/jades-gs-z14-0-oxygen