James Webb telescope discovers the oldest and most distant galaxy known

The James Webb Space Telescope has set a new record by detecting the most distant galaxy known. According to Webb astronomers Stefano Carniani and Kevin Hainline, such a large amount of starlight means the galaxy is several hundred million times the mass of the Sun.

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James Webb telescope discovers the oldest and most distant galaxy known

The collection of stars, named JADES-GS-z14-0, was imaged as it appeared 290 million years after the Big Bang, which is thought to have led to the expansion of the universe.

In other words, if the universe expanding from the Big Bang is 13.8 billion years old, we are observing this galaxy when it was only 2% of its current age.

The Webb telescope made this discovery with its 6.5-meter primary mirror and sensitive infrared instruments.

The telescope's previous record was the detection of a galaxy as it appeared 325 million years after the Big Bang.

Astronomers say the most interesting aspect of the latest observation is not the great distance, but the size and brightness of JADES-GS-z14-0.

LIGHT PRODUCED BY YOUNG STARS

According to Webb measurements, the galaxy is more than 1,600 light-years across. The brightest galaxies usually produce most of their light through gas falling into a supermassive black hole. Measurements regarding JADES-GS-z14-0, however, indicate that the light is produced by young stars.

According to Webb astronomers Stefano Carniani and Kevin Hainline, such a large amount of starlight means the galaxy is several hundred million times the mass of the Sun.

This raises the question: "How can nature create such a bright, large, and massive galaxy in less than 300 million years?"

News Source: 12punto