Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have uncovered the earliest known galaxy, MoM-z14, dating back an astonishing 280 million years after the Big Bang. This groundbreaking discovery is set to challenge our understanding of how galaxies formed and evolved over time.
A galaxy dating back an astonishing 280 million years after the Big Bang has been confirmed, providing a unique glimpse into the nascent universe.
MoM-z14, discovered in 2023 by astronomers using the ‘James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)’, is the earliest known galaxy ever observed. This remarkable finding challenges our understanding of how galaxies formed and evolved over time.
The Dawn of Galaxy Formation
“The JWST’s incredible depth and resolution have allowed scientists to peer back into the distant past, observing galaxies that existed when the universe was still in its early stages of formation.”
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space observatory designed to study the universe in infrared light.
Launched in December 2021, JWST is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and will focus on observing distant galaxies, stars, and planets.
With its advanced technology, 'detecting faint signals from distant objects' , JWST can provide insights into the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
Built by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, JWST is a collaborative effort to explore the mysteries of the universe.
MoM-z14 is one such galaxy, and its age poses several intriguing questions about the universe’s history.
A Window into the Past
By examining MoM-z14 with “JWST”, researchers have gained valuable insights into the processes that governed galaxy formation during this critical period. The presence of such an early galaxy suggests that our current understanding of cosmic evolution may require significant revision.
Galaxy formation is a complex and still not fully understood process.
It begins with the collapse of a giant molecular cloud, which fragments into smaller regions that eventually form stars.
These stars are surrounded by disks of gas and dust, which can collapse to form planets.
Over time, these planetary systems can merge to form larger galaxies.
The Milky Way galaxy, for example, is thought to have formed around 13.6 billion years ago from the merger of several smaller galaxies.
The discovery of MoM-z14 serves as a poignant reminder of the awe-inspiring mysteries waiting to be unraveled in the universe. As scientists continue to explore the cosmos with cutting-edge technologies like “JWST”, we are slowly but surely shedding light on the most fundamental questions about our existence.
The universe is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years old, with its origins dating back to the 'Big Bang'.
This event marked the beginning of expansion and cooling of matter, leading to the formation of subatomic particles, atoms, and eventually galaxies.
The universe has been expanding ever since, with stars and galaxies moving away from each other at incredible speeds.
Our understanding of the universe's beginnings is based on observations of cosmic microwave background radiation and other astrophysical phenomena.
- newscientist.com | Earliest galaxy ever seen offers glimpse of the nascent universe
