GALAXIES SPOTTED BY WEBB SPACE
NASA's James Webb
Telescope Reveals Compact and Mature Galaxies in Early Universe
The
recently launched James Webb Space Telescope by NASA has made groundbreaking
observations that challenge the previous understanding of the early universe.
According to the data collected by the telescope, there were six large, mature,
and compact galaxies present 540 to 770 million years after the Big Bang. This
contradicts the previous belief that the formation of galaxies takes much
longer than this time frame.
The Galaxies
Discovered are Fundamentally Different from Those in the Present Universe
The
galaxies found by the James Webb Telescope are not only mature but also
remarkably compact, and one of them is 30 times more densely packed than our
Milky Way. These galaxies are fundamentally different from those present in the
current universe, leading the lead author of the study, astrophysicist Ivo
Labbe of Swinburne University of Technology, to describe them as "truly
bizarre creatures." If the Milky Way were an average-sized adult, these
galaxies would be like one-year-old babies weighing the same as the Milky Way
but standing just under 3 inches tall.
The Discovery
Upends Previous Understanding of Galaxy Formation
Astronomers
had previously thought that galaxy formation takes place over a much longer
period of time than that observed by the James Webb Telescope. The discovery of
these compact, mature galaxies has led to a reconsideration of the current
understanding of galaxy formation. According to Joel Leja, an astrophysicist at
Penn State and co-author of the study, the galaxies' discovery is "astounding
and unexpected." They seem to have evolved much faster than what was
previously believed.
Confirmation of
These Galaxies as Massive Galaxies is Needed
Further
observations are needed to confirm that all six candidates discovered are
galaxies and not some other source of light. However, even if only some of
these galaxies turn out to be massive galaxies, it would imply that galaxies
formed much faster in the universe than previously thought. This would suggest
10 to 100 times more mass in stars existing at this epoch than what was
expected.
The Role of Dark
Matter in Galaxy Formation
The
journey to galaxy formation following the Big Bang is believed to depend on
dark matter, a mysterious material invisible to us but known to exist due to
its gravitational influence on normal matter. The leading theory suggests that
an ocean of dark matter filled the early universe after the Big Bang, which
eventually formed concentrated clumps, dragging hydrogen gas along the way,
eventually resulting in the formation of galaxies.
The First Stars in
the Early Universe
Astronomers
suspect that the first stars began forming 100 million to 200 million years
after the Big Bang, with each star being a thousand times more massive than the
sun but much shorter-lived. Their explosion set off the chain of events that
formed subsequent generations of stars, leading to the formation of galaxies.
The Early Universe
was Much Richer and More Diverse than Previously Believed
The James Webb Telescope continues to surprise us with its discoveries. The observation of these compact, mature galaxies suggests that the early universe was richer and more diverse than previously believed. It is exciting to consider what else we will learn as the telescope continues to reveal new insights into the universe's formation and evolution
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