logo
Astronomers spot galaxy shaped like the Milky Way but is far more massive

Astronomers spot galaxy shaped like the Milky Way but is far more massive

WASHINGTON: Astronomers have observed a galaxy dating to an earlier epoch in the universe's history that surprisingly is shaped much like our Milky Way - a spiral structure with a straight bar of stars and gas running through its center - but far more massive, offering new insight into galactic formation.
The distant galaxy, called J0107a, was observed as it appeared 11.1 billion years ago, when the universe was about a fifth of its current age. The researchers used data from the Chile-based Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the galaxy.
They determined that the galaxy's mass, including its stars and gas, was more than 10 times greater than that of the Milky Way, and it was forming stars at an annual rate approximately 300 times greater. J0107a was more compact than the Milky Way, however.
'The galaxy is a monster galaxy with a high star formation rate and plenty of gas, much more than present-day galaxies,' said astronomer Shuo Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature.
'This discovery,' said study co-author Toshiki Saito, an astronomer at Shizuoka University in Japan, 'raises the important question: How did such a massive galaxy form in such an early universe?'
While a few galaxies that are undergoing star formation at a similar rate to J0107a exist in today's universe, almost all of them are ones that are in the process of a galactic merger or collision. There was no sign of such circumstances involving this galaxy.
J0107a and the Milky Way have some commonalities.
'They are similarly huge and possess a similar barred structure. However, the Milky Way had plenty of time to form its huge structures, while J0107a didn't,' Saito said.
In the first few billion years after the Big Bang event 13.8 billion years ago that initiated the universe, galaxies were turbulent entities and were much richer in gas than those existing currently - factors that fostered extreme bursts of star formation. While galaxies with highly organized structures like the barred spiral shape of the Milky Way are common now, that was not the case 11.1 billion years ago.
'Compared to other monster galaxies in the distant universe (dating to an earlier cosmic epoch) whose shapes are usually disturbed or irregular, it is unexpected that J0107a looks very similar to present-day spiral galaxies,' Huang said.
'Theories about the formation of present-day galactic structures may need to be revised,' Huang added.
The Webb telescope, as it peers across vast distances back to the early universe, has found that galaxies with a spiral shape appeared much earlier than previously known. J0107a is now one of the earliest-known examples of a barred spiral galaxy.
About two thirds of spiral galaxies observed in the universe today possess a bar structure. The bar is thought to serve as a form of stellar nursery, bringing gas inward from the galaxy's spiral arms. Some of the gas forms what are called molecular clouds. Gravity causes the contraction of these clouds, with small centers taking shape that heat up and become new stars.
The bar that is part of J0107a measures about 50,000 light years in length, Huang said. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).
The Webb telescope 'has been studying the morphology of early massive galaxies intensely recently. However, their dynamics are still poorly understood,' Saito said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Astronomers spot galaxy shaped like the Milky Way but is far more massive
Astronomers spot galaxy shaped like the Milky Way but is far more massive

Business Recorder

time2 days ago

  • Business Recorder

Astronomers spot galaxy shaped like the Milky Way but is far more massive

WASHINGTON: Astronomers have observed a galaxy dating to an earlier epoch in the universe's history that surprisingly is shaped much like our Milky Way - a spiral structure with a straight bar of stars and gas running through its center - but far more massive, offering new insight into galactic formation. The distant galaxy, called J0107a, was observed as it appeared 11.1 billion years ago, when the universe was about a fifth of its current age. The researchers used data from the Chile-based Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to study the galaxy. They determined that the galaxy's mass, including its stars and gas, was more than 10 times greater than that of the Milky Way, and it was forming stars at an annual rate approximately 300 times greater. J0107a was more compact than the Milky Way, however. 'The galaxy is a monster galaxy with a high star formation rate and plenty of gas, much more than present-day galaxies,' said astronomer Shuo Huang of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature. 'This discovery,' said study co-author Toshiki Saito, an astronomer at Shizuoka University in Japan, 'raises the important question: How did such a massive galaxy form in such an early universe?' While a few galaxies that are undergoing star formation at a similar rate to J0107a exist in today's universe, almost all of them are ones that are in the process of a galactic merger or collision. There was no sign of such circumstances involving this galaxy. J0107a and the Milky Way have some commonalities. 'They are similarly huge and possess a similar barred structure. However, the Milky Way had plenty of time to form its huge structures, while J0107a didn't,' Saito said. In the first few billion years after the Big Bang event 13.8 billion years ago that initiated the universe, galaxies were turbulent entities and were much richer in gas than those existing currently - factors that fostered extreme bursts of star formation. While galaxies with highly organized structures like the barred spiral shape of the Milky Way are common now, that was not the case 11.1 billion years ago. 'Compared to other monster galaxies in the distant universe (dating to an earlier cosmic epoch) whose shapes are usually disturbed or irregular, it is unexpected that J0107a looks very similar to present-day spiral galaxies,' Huang said. 'Theories about the formation of present-day galactic structures may need to be revised,' Huang added. The Webb telescope, as it peers across vast distances back to the early universe, has found that galaxies with a spiral shape appeared much earlier than previously known. J0107a is now one of the earliest-known examples of a barred spiral galaxy. About two thirds of spiral galaxies observed in the universe today possess a bar structure. The bar is thought to serve as a form of stellar nursery, bringing gas inward from the galaxy's spiral arms. Some of the gas forms what are called molecular clouds. Gravity causes the contraction of these clouds, with small centers taking shape that heat up and become new stars. The bar that is part of J0107a measures about 50,000 light years in length, Huang said. A light-year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). The Webb telescope 'has been studying the morphology of early massive galaxies intensely recently. However, their dynamics are still poorly understood,' Saito said.

Microsoft says new Aurora AI model can accurately forecast weather changes
Microsoft says new Aurora AI model can accurately forecast weather changes

Express Tribune

time3 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Microsoft says new Aurora AI model can accurately forecast weather changes

Microsoft says new Aurora AI model can accurately forecast weather changes Microsoft says its latest AI system, Aurora, can predict typhoons, hurricanes, sandstorms, and air quality events more accurately and significantly faster than traditional forecasting methods, according to a new research paper and blog post released this week. The company published details of the Aurora model in Nature, citing major improvements in forecast accuracy and efficiency. Trained on more than a million hours of satellite, radar, and ground station data, Aurora is designed to anticipate atmospheric events across the globe and can be fine-tuned for specific weather scenarios. A new paper published in Nature explains how Microsoft's Aurora AI foundation model goes beyond weather forecasting to more accurately predict a range of environmental events, from hurricanes and typhoons to air quality and ocean waves. — Microsoft Research (@MSFTResearch) May 21, 2025 In tests, Microsoft says Aurora predicted the landfall of Typhoon Doksuri in the Philippines four days in advance — outperforming several expert forecasts. The model also outpaced the US National Hurricane Center in tracking tropical cyclones over the 2022–2023 season and correctly anticipated a major sandstorm in Iraq in 2022. While AI-based weather forecasting is not new — Google DeepMind's WeatherNext is another example — Microsoft positions Aurora as among the most advanced models publicly available. The company has also released Aurora's source code and model weights, opening it to researchers and developers. Microsoft reports that, despite its large training set and the infrastructure required to build it, Aurora runs highly efficiently. Forecasts are generated in seconds, compared to hours required by legacy supercomputer-based systems. A specialised version of the model will be integrated into Microsoft's MSN Weather app, providing hourly updates and cloud forecasts. The development is seen as a potential game-changer for meteorologists and climate scientists, offering faster and possibly more accurate tools for understanding extreme weather patterns and air quality.

UAE partners with US firm for second moon rover mission in 2026
UAE partners with US firm for second moon rover mission in 2026

Express Tribune

time5 days ago

  • Express Tribune

UAE partners with US firm for second moon rover mission in 2026

The artist's image show Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander and the Rashid 2 Rover on the lunar surface. PHOTO: FIREFLY Listen to article The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced its second mission to the Moon's surface, set for 2026, marking another bold step in the country's expanding space ambitions. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), revealed on Thursday that the UAE had signed a strategic agreement with US-based Firefly Aerospace. The deal will see the Rashid 2 Rover delivered to the Moon's far side on Firefly's Blue Ghost lander, stacked on the Elytra Dark orbital vehicle. 'I witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between MBRSC and Firefly Aerospace to provide payload delivery services for the Rashid 2 Rover,' Sheikh Hamdan posted on X. 'This mission will make the UAE only the second country in history to attempt a landing on the Moon's far side, placing the nation at the forefront of space exploration.' The Rashid 2 Rover mission follows the UAE's first lunar attempt, Rashid Rover 1, which crash-landed in 2022 after a Japanese lander failed to achieve a soft landing. Unlike its predecessor, Rashid 2 will focus on scientific exploration in a challenging environment where communication and terrain pose greater obstacles. The rover will carry multiple cameras and scientific instruments to study the Moon's plasma environment, geology, thermal conditions, and soil properties. It will test material adhesion on its wheels to evaluate durability against lunar dust—a key challenge for future lunar technology such as spacesuits and habitats. The mission is part of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2, which will also carry payloads from Australia, the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General of MBRSC, described the mission as 'a significant advancement in the UAE's role in shaping the future of lunar exploration.' He added that the project would deliver valuable scientific data, supporting the development of future lunar infrastructure and contributing to humanity's presence in space. The UAE's space ambitions are supported by the country's leadership, including President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Hamdan emphasised the importance of the UAE's youth in driving the nation's progress both on Earth and beyond. 'Our objective is not only to reach new destinations in space but to generate meaningful knowledge that contributes to humanity's understanding of the universe,' he said. 'The agreement with Firefly Aerospace reflects our strategy of forging strategic global collaborations that advance our long-term scientific and space technology ambitions.' The Emirates Lunar Mission forms a key part of the UAE's National Space Programme, which prioritises scientific advancement, youth empowerment, and international cooperation to establish the country as a major player in global space exploration. The Rashid 2 mission, scheduled for 2026, will help position the UAE at the forefront of lunar exploration, focusing on the Moon's less-explored far side and fostering international scientific collaboration.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store