NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made groundbreaking discoveries about the Phoenix galaxy cluster, providing new insights into its unusually high rate of star formation. Located 5.8 billion light-years from Earth, the Phoenix cluster is the largest observed and features a massive central galaxy with intense bursts of star creation.
Contrary to expectations, the core of this galaxy cluster is producing stars at an unprecedented rate of 1,000 new stars per year, significantly higher than most galaxies which only form about one star annually. Scientists have struggled to explain this phenomenon, but JWST’s advanced infrared capabilities have helped reveal the presence of “warm” gas, a key clue to understanding the rapid star formation.
Unlike extremely hot and cold gas detected in other galaxy clusters, warm gas was previously unknown. JWST’s observations using a technique that tracked neon emission at 300,000 kelvins revealed this intermediate-temperature gas throughout the central galaxy. This discovery confirms that cooling gas, rather than external sources, drives the Phoenix galaxy’s rapid star formation.
The implications of this research are significant for our understanding of galaxy clusters. In most cases, supermassive black holes prevent gas from cooling enough to form stars. However, the Phoenix cluster seems to be an exception, suggesting a unique process at play. Further observations and studies will help astronomers better understand why this system behaves differently from others.
Source: https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/nasas-james-webb-space-telescope-unlocks-the-mystery-of-phoenix-galaxy-clusters-star-formation/188599