James Webb Space Telescope identified Milky Way's cosmic twin from the universe's first billion years
Astronomers have discovered Zhúlóng, an enormous spiral
galaxy
observed as it was just 12.8 billion years ago, challenging current theories about
galaxy formation
. Identified through the
James Webb Space Telescope
's PANORAMIC survey,
Zhúlóng
shows a well-defined spiral structure—unexpected for such an early stage in the universe. Until now, spiral galaxies were rarely seen beyond 11.5 billion years ago. With a diameter of 62,000 light-years and a stellar mass comparable to the Milky Way, Zhúlóng suggests that mature, organized galaxies may have formed much earlier than scientists once believed.
Zhúlóng: A mature galaxy born in the universe's first billion years
Astronomer Mengyuan Xiao and his team from the University of Geneva state, "Zhúlóng reveals that mature galaxies formed much earlier than previously thought, within the first billion years following the Big Bang." Their research, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, describes the galaxy's 'highly evolved structure,' which includes a classical quiescent bulge, a star-forming disk, and grand-design spiral arms. These spiral arms stretch from the nucleus to the galaxy's outer regions, defining its grand-design spiral shape. Such complex features are typically seen in older galaxies, making Zhúlóng's early development—just one billion years after the Big Bang—especially significant and challenging earlier models of galaxy formation.
Consequences of James Webb Space Telescope identified-twin galaxy formation and evolution
"Our discovery provides essential constraints for models of massive galaxy formation and the origins of spiral structures in the early universe," the researchers state. Earlier, it was assumed that the development of spiral galaxies was a slow process, with these structures forming predominantly after the first billion years of cosmic history. However, the detection of Zhúlóng suggests that the processes responsible for galaxy formation, such as star settling into disks and the formation of spiral arms, might have occurred much more rapidly. This challenges existing models and calls for a reassessment of factors like gas dynamics, star formation rates, and the role of dark matter halos. Zhúlóng's swift evolution within 800 million years after the Big Bang offers a new benchmark for astrophysical models and simulations aimed at understanding the early universe.
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A Milky Way twin like never before found by James Webb Space Telescope
'Zhúlóng stands out due to its striking resemblance to the Milky Way in terms of shape, size, and stellar mass,' says Xiao. With a diameter of around 62,000 light-years and a mass comparable to that of the Milky Way, Zhúlóng is a close cosmic relative despite its ancient origins. The galaxy's central black hole appears inactive, indicating a decline in its star formation rate, which is estimated to be between 20 and 155 solar masses per year. This suggests a shift from a highly active star-forming phase to a more mature, stable state. The galaxy's well-formed classical bulge and star-forming disk further confirm its advanced structural development, providing a rare glimpse into the Milky Way's early evolutionary stages.
A new timeline perspective of Galaxy after James Webb Space Telescope's discovery
The discovery of Zhúlóng in such an early stage suggests that massive galaxies could form up to ten times faster than previously believed. This revised timeline challenges traditional views on the pace of cosmic evolution during the first billion years after the Big Bang. Investigating the factors that enabled Zhúlóng's rapid formation will provide insights into the conditions of the early universe, including the availability of cold gas, star formation efficiency, and feedback from black holes or supernovae. As the JWST continues its study of the Cosmic Dawn, findings like Zhúlóng will enhance our understanding of how the universe evolved from its primordial state to a structured cosmos filled with complex galaxies like the Milky Way.
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