Astronomers have obtained a rare glimpse into the formation of our own Milky Way galaxy, observing a tiny galaxy 600 million years after the Big Bang. The galaxy, nicknamed Firefly Sparkle, is bursting with star formation and has been imaged using the powerful James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Researchers were able to identify 10 distinct star clusters, determine the mass of the galaxy, and study its growth process.
The image was obtained through gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where massive objects warp space-time, bending light around them. By analyzing this distorted light, scientists were able to reconstruct a coherent picture of the galaxy, revealing its dynamic structure and composition.
The discovery sheds new light on the early Universe’s cosmic dawn period, during which all matter began to come together, forming stars, galaxies, and other celestial objects. The star clusters show different colors across the spectrum, suggesting that their formation was not simultaneous and providing insight into the galactic assembly process.
Furthermore, the galaxy is found to be in a gravitational orbit with two nearby galaxies, possibly participating in an early stage of cannibalistic growth, similar to our own Milky Way’s evolution. This rare opportunity has allowed scientists to study how baby galaxies grow, offering valuable insights into our own galaxy’s development.
The James Webb Space Telescope will continue to uncover more such galaxies, enabling a deeper understanding of their formation and evolution. As Dr. Maruša Bradač of the University of Ljubljana notes, “Just like microscopes let us see pollen grains from plants, JWST is allowing us to see the small pieces inside galaxies.”
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/jwst-reveals-actively-forming-early-galaxy-lightweight-as-a-baby-milky-way