A relic galaxy has been discovered in the early universe, revealing new clues about what our Milky Way might have been like billions of years ago.
In new images from NASA James Webb Space TelescopeThe Milky Way appears as a long, twisting arc bound with clusters of stars, like a swarm of lightning bugs on a warm summer night. The dazzling appearance has earned this cosmic structure the nickname “Firefly Galaxy.”
The researchers used computer models to “weigh” the galaxy, which showed that its mass was similar to that of the Milky Way at the same stage of its development 600 million years after its birth. big Bang. According to reports, other galaxies discovered so far at similar times are much more massive. a statement From NASA.
“I don’t think it’s possible to solve a galaxy that existed so early universe “There’s a lot going on inside this tiny galaxy, including many different stages of star formation,” said study co-lead author Lamiya Mowla, an assistant professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
With the help of something called a “natural phenomenon” gravitational lensing effect Using foreground objects as a magnifying glass, JWST revealed that the twinkling firefly galaxy has two companion stars that together form the galaxy cluster MACS J1423. According to the statement, these two neighboring companion galaxies have a strong influence on how the firefly galaxy formed and accumulated mass over time.
“Most other galaxy The James Webb Space Telescope shows us their ‘building blocks’ without being magnified or stretched and we can’t see them individually,” Mora said in the statement. “Through the firefly flashes, we are witnessing a galaxy being built brick by brick. The tiles are assembled.
Given the Milky Way’s elongated, stretched appearance, researchers were able to identify 10 different, twinkling galaxies clusterthey are the main source of light emanating from the Milky Way. These clusters are represented in the new JWST image in varying shades of pink, purple and blue. This marks different stages of star formation, emphasizing the staggered evolution of galaxies.
Chris Willott, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the Herzberg National Research Council in Canada, said: “This galaxy has a diverse range of star clusters, and it is remarkable that we can see so early in the universe See them individually. Star Going through different stages of formation or evolution.
The Firefly Galaxy will continue to evolve as it is orbited by two very close companion stars, causing more gas to condense and cool with each pass, forming new star clusters. Not only do these interactions contribute to the growth and mass increase of the firefly galaxy, but they may ultimately lead to the demise of two smaller galaxies, which may be consumed in a galaxy merger—and we may just capture it live This move is possible thanks to the advanced technology researchers say JWST is capable of.
What they found was Published December 11 In the journal Nature.