NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered the earliest-known galaxy which is unexpectedly bright and large for its age.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) finds most distant known Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
They used JWST for observations as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) program.
- JADES-GS-z14-0 was first seen using JWST’s NIRCam, a powerful camera that captures near-infrared light.
- NIRSpec: Confirmed extreme distance (high redshift).
- MIRI: Provided more details and confirmed vast distance.
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About Galaxy
It is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound by gravity.
Variety and Size
- Star Count: Average galaxy contains about 100 million stars.
- Size Range: From dwarf galaxies with less than a thousand stars to supergiant galaxies with up to one hundred trillion stars.
- Dark Matter: Most of a galaxy’s mass is dark matter; stars and nebulae make up only a small percentage.
- Central Features- Supermassive Black Holes: Commonly found at the centers of galaxies.
Classification
Galaxies are categorized by shape:
- Elliptical
- Spiral (e.g., Milky Way)
- Irregular
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Why is the galaxy so bright in the center?
The center of the galaxy is known as the Galactic Bulge
- It is the brightest due to the presence of more stars.
- In addition to the above, Stars within the galactic bulge orbit the centre in various planes.
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About Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
- It is the most distant known galaxy from Earth.
- Formation: JADES-GS-z14-0 was formed approximately 290 million years after the Big Bang.
- Previously, the earliest-known galaxy was dated to 320 million years post-Big Bang.
Characteristics of Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
- Unique Properties: The galaxy contains young stars and significant ionized gas emission.
- Size: Measures about 1,700 light-years across.
- A light year is 9.5 trillion kilometers.
- Mass: Equivalent to 500 million stars the size of the Sun.
Findings of Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
- Strong ionized gas emissions: Researchers found evidence of strong ionized gas emissions (including hydrogen and oxygen) within the galaxy.
- The presence of oxygen suggests that multiple generations of massive stars had already lived their lives before observing the galaxy.
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Significance of the discovery of Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0
- Challenges previous Theories: This galaxy’s size and brightness don’t fit with existing ideas of how early galaxies formed.
- It suggests the process might be more surprising and complex.
- New Insights into Early Universe: Studying JADES-GS-z14-0 helps understand the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe.
- It provides insights into the conditions of the universe shortly after the Big Bang.
- Milestone in Cosmology: This discovery is a major breakthrough in our study of the universe’s early history.
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June 3, 2024