A team of researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing a galaxy that existed 600 million years after the Big Bang and has a mass similar to what our Milky Way galaxy’s mass might have been at the same stage of development. The newly discovered galaxy, dubbed the Firefly Sparkle, has sparked excitement among astronomers, offering unique insights into the early universe.
Using JWST’s advanced capabilities, including high-resolution imaging and infrared spectroscopy, the researchers were able to detect and “weigh” the Firefly Sparkle galaxy. This was made possible by a natural effect called gravitational lensing, which warped the galaxy’s appearance and enhanced its visibility.
Researchers have discovered 10 distinct star clusters within the galaxy, each emitting significant amounts of light, revealing that the galaxy underwent different phases of star formation over time. The galaxy’s composition includes diverse populations of stars, demonstrating that it is still in the process of forming.
Further analysis reveals that the Firefly Sparkle galaxy has a unique shape, with its stars not settling into a central bulge or flattened disk, suggesting that it is still assembled. Scientists are intrigued by this discovery as it provides evidence of how galaxies formed and evolved early on in the universe.
The research team also observed two companion galaxies nearby, which may influence the Firefly Sparkle’s mass over billions of years through gravitational interactions. With its small size and dynamic environment, the Firefly Sparkle galaxy offers a rare glimpse into the process of galaxy formation.
This discovery is just one of many that JWST will make possible as it continues to explore the early universe with unprecedented resolution. By studying galaxies like the Firefly Sparkle, scientists can refine our understanding of how these celestial bodies formed and evolved over time, shedding light on some of the most pressing questions in cosmology.
Source: https://phys.org/news