Astrophysicists at UCLA have made a discovery using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope – the faintest galaxy ever observed in the early Universe. This galaxy is now known as JD1, and it’s among the most distant galaxies known, as GiantFreakinRobot reveals. It also provides valuable insights into the cosmic dark ages and the Epoch of the Reionization era. The James Webb Space Telescope, using its exceptional sensitivity, plays a crucial role in unraveling the mysteries of our Universe’s beginnings.
During the cosmic dark ages, hydrogen atoms absorbed the ultraviolet photons, which resulted in a dark Universe. Eventually, the emergence of the first stars and galaxies dispersed this hydrogen fog using their ultraviolet light. JD1 and similar galaxies likely played a crucial role in this process. Gravitational lensing, combined with the telescope’s capabilities, enabled the detection of JD1, making it appear 13 times brighter and larger. By studying the infrared light spectrum, scientists were able to determine the age, distance from Earth, and other characteristics of the JD1 galaxy.
This is JD1, the smallest, faintest galaxy observed in the early universe. Probably these mini-galaxies were everywhere at the time — but we couldn't see them until now. https://t.co/MysG2dz4dU pic.twitter.com/ciaMnE67Xb
— Corey S. Powell (@coreyspowell) June 1, 2023
Considering that light has a constant speed, we can see JD1 the way it was about 13.3 billion years ago, meaning not long after the Big Bang. These findings mark exciting progress in our understanding of the Universe, with the James Webb Space Telescope poised to revolutionize our knowledge further. The Big Bang, on the other hand, took place roughly 13.7 billion years ago.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) remains a groundbreaking space observatory specializing in infrared astronomy. With its remarkable size and advanced instruments, Webb surpasses the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope by capturing ancient, faraway, and dim objects. This empowers scientists to delve into various realms of astronomy and cosmology, such as studying the earliest stars, the birth of galaxies, and conducting intricate analyses of the atmospheres of potentially habitable exoplanets.
