The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery, capturing images of 44 individual stars in a distant galaxy halfway across the observable universe. The record-breaking find is significant not only for its technological feat but also for providing an opportunity to study dark matter.
Astronomers were once deemed impossible to identify individual stars in this region, likening it to spotting dust grains inside craters on the moon using binoculars. However, the JWST has been able to capture these images just a year apart, showcasing its impressive capabilities.
The newly discovered 44 stars are part of a distant galaxy with warped light, nicknamed the “Dragon.” By analyzing colors, researchers have inferred that these stars are red supergiants nearing the end of their lives. The Dragon is, in fact, a cosmic mirage caused by the alignment of several galaxies behind the Abell 370 galaxy cluster.
Scrutinizing these arcs of light allows astronomers to study remote galaxies with greater detail than would be possible without powerful telescopes like the JWST. The serendipitous discovery was facilitated by floating stars within Abell 370, which briefly lined up with hidden stars and magnified them.
Researchers are now analyzing subtle variations in gravitational lensing that caused changes in brightness over time, making the stars appear and disappear from image to image. This study provides a unique opportunity to probe dark matter and further expands our understanding of the universe.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-spots-record-breaking-collection-of-stars-in-far-flung-galaxy