In October 2023 and January 2024, an international team of astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope from NASA to observe galaxies as part of the JADES program. Using the NIRSpec near-infrared spectrograph, scientists obtained a spectrum of a galaxy observed only 290 million years after the big bang, with a redshift of about 14. This discovery, named JADES-GS-z14-0, holds the current record for the most distant galaxy known, offering valuable information about the early universe.
The researchers found that the galaxy must be intrinsically very luminous and massive, with starlight mainly coming from young stars rather than emissions near a supermassive black hole. This raises questions about how such a large and bright galaxy formed in less than 300 million years after the big bang. The discovery of JADES-GS-z14-0 has important implications for the expected number of bright galaxies in the early universe, challenging existing theories about galaxy formation.
Stefano Carniani and Kevin Hainline, who led the research team, note that this unprecedented discovery sheds light on the mysteries of early galaxy formation. They explain that “This discovery is truly remarkable because it pushes back our understanding of when galaxies first formed in the universe.” The researchers believe that their findings will have profound implications for our understanding of cosmic evolution.
The James Webb Space Telescope has been instrumental in exploring cosmic dawn, providing insight into the early universe by observing galaxies during this period after the big bang. With its advanced technology and capabilities, it continues to be an invaluable tool for astronomers studying our universe’s origins and evolution.
