emirates7 - Astronomers have announced the observation of the most ancient galaxy ever detected—named MoM-z14—uncovered through the Mirage (or Miracle) study.
The discovery was made possible using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which confirmed that the light from MoM-z14 was emitted a mere 280 million years after the Big Bang. For perspective, the Big Bang occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
The JWST, the most advanced infrared space telescope to date, is capable of capturing images of extremely distant galaxies. These far-off galaxies exhibit significant redshifts—a process where light stretches into longer wavelengths as it travels, shifting it toward the red end of the spectrum due to the vast distances involved.
Interestingly, the patterns observed in MoM-z14 are similar to those found in some of the Milky Way’s oldest stars. Researchers believe this indicates they are witnessing the formation of similar stellar populations within dense clusters.
Through a range of scientific methods, researchers determined that MoM-z14 is a remarkably compact galaxy undergoing intense star formation. It may also be among the most nitrogen-rich celestial objects identified by the JWST so far.
Since its deployment in late 2021, the JWST has significantly expanded our understanding of the farthest reaches of the cosmos.
The discovery was made possible using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which confirmed that the light from MoM-z14 was emitted a mere 280 million years after the Big Bang. For perspective, the Big Bang occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago.
The JWST, the most advanced infrared space telescope to date, is capable of capturing images of extremely distant galaxies. These far-off galaxies exhibit significant redshifts—a process where light stretches into longer wavelengths as it travels, shifting it toward the red end of the spectrum due to the vast distances involved.
Interestingly, the patterns observed in MoM-z14 are similar to those found in some of the Milky Way’s oldest stars. Researchers believe this indicates they are witnessing the formation of similar stellar populations within dense clusters.
Through a range of scientific methods, researchers determined that MoM-z14 is a remarkably compact galaxy undergoing intense star formation. It may also be among the most nitrogen-rich celestial objects identified by the JWST so far.
Since its deployment in late 2021, the JWST has significantly expanded our understanding of the farthest reaches of the cosmos.