2023-04-16 13:00:47
Somewhere, in the depths of our Universe, astronomers have just cast the gaze of the James-Webb space telescope on an astonishing galaxy. A very small galaxy which, however, produces stars at a frantic rate.
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[EN VIDÉO] The first images from the James Webb Space Telescope Discover the first images sent by NASA of the JWST, the high-performance space telescope…
Studying distant galaxies is the dream of astronomers. A dream that has long remained unattainable. But that is now gradually becoming a reality. In particular thanks to the sensitivity of the James-Webb space telescope (JWST). She allowed University of Minnesota researchers (United States) to look at a galaxy located more than 13 billion light-years from our Earth. A galaxy unlike any other.
“Never had we been able to see the Universe when it was so young [tel qu’il était, donc, il y a 13 milliards d’années, alors qu’il n’avait qu’environ 500 millions d’années, ndlr] with this level of detail”says Patrick Kelly, a professor at the College of Science and Engineering, in a press release from the university of minnesota. Thanks to the JWST which is, in this matter, 10 times more sensitive than the Hubble space telescope, and which gives access to different wavelengths in the infrared. But also thanks to a gravitational lensing effect that made the galaxy in question appear 20 times brighter than it otherwise would be.
From galaxies of the past to those of today
Spectroscopic studies have allowed astronomers to determine that this galaxy is one of the smallest ever observed. Its volume is only regarding one millionth that of our Milky Way. Yet researchers say this galaxy is forming stars at an extremely high rate. It is a surprise.
“The galaxies that existed when the Universe was in its infancy are very different from what we see in the nearby Universe today.recalls Hayley Williams, first author of the article. This discovery may help us learn more regarding the characteristics of these early galaxies. To elucidate how they differ from our neighboring galaxies and how previous galaxies formed.
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