Oxygen detected in the most distant galaxy ever found
Astronomers believe the big bang created the universe 13.8 billion years ago.
The unusually large, luminous distant galaxy, called JADES-GS-z14-0, was initially detected in January 2024 using the James Webb Space Telescope, which observes the universe in infrared light that's invisible to the human eye. The space observatory can effectively peer back in time to the beginning of a mysterious era called Cosmic Dawn, or the first few hundred million years after the big bang when the first galaxies were born, because it can observe light that has traveled for billions of years across space to Earth.
Light from JADES-GS-z14-0 has taken 13.4 billion years to reach our corner of the universe, so Webb and other observatories such as ALMA, or the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array in Chile's Atacama Desert, are seeing the galaxy as it was when the universe was only about 300 million years old.
When astronomers used ALMA to follow up on Webb's initial observations, they were stunned to find the presence of oxygen and heavy metals because their presence suggests that galaxies formed more quickly than expected in the early days of the universe.
The results of the ALMA detections were published Thursday in separate studies in The Astrophysical Journal and Astronomy & Astrophysics.
'It is like finding an adolescent where you would only expect babies,' said Sander Schouws, lead author of The Astrophysical Journal study and a doctoral candidate at Leiden Observatory at Leiden University in the Netherlands, in a statement. 'The results show the galaxy has formed very rapidly and is also maturing rapidly, adding to a growing body of evidence that the formation of galaxies happens much faster than was expected.'
The fact that JADES-GS-z14-0 was laden with heavy elements is causing astronomers to question what some of the earliest galaxies were really like — as well as how many more they may find using Webb and ALMA.
A bright light leads to a surprise
Multiple aspects of JADES-GS-z14-0, including its large size and brightness, have proved to be unexpected. As Webb surveyed 700 distant galaxies, this one turned out to be the third brightest despite it being the farthest, Schouws said. But the oldest galaxies are expected to be smaller and dimmer because the universe was much smaller at the time.
'In general, galaxies this early in the universe are very different from the famous galaxies we know from the beautiful images of Hubble and JWST,' Schouws said in an email. 'They are a lot more compact, rich in gas and messy/disordered. The conditions are more extreme because a lot of stars are forming rapidly in a small volume.'
Galaxies typically begin from huge gas clouds that collapse and rotate, filling with young stars that are largely made of light elements such as helium and hydrogen. As stars evolve over time, they create heavier elements such as oxygen and metals, which disperse throughout the galaxy as stars explode at the end of their lifetime. In turn, the elements released by dying stars lead to the formation of more stars as well as the planets that orbit them.
But nothing about JADES-GS-z14-0 fits that model. Instead, the galaxy contains 10 times more heavy elements than expected, the study authors said.
'Such elements are produced by massive stars and the large amount of oxygen suggests that several generations of massive stars were already born and died,' said Dr.Stefano Carniani, assistant professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, Italy, and lead author of the Astronomy & Astrophysics study, in a statement. 'In conclusion (JADES-GS-z14-0) is more mature than expected and these results imply that the first generation of galaxies assembled their mass very quickly.'
Going the distance
Using ALMA also enabled the researchers to confirm the distance of the galaxy, originally measured using Webb, and refine their measurements. Together, both telescopes can be used to study the formation and evolution of the first galaxies, said Rychard Bouwens, associate professor at Leiden University and coauthor of the study in The Astrophysical Journal.
'I was really surprised by this clear detection of oxygen in JADES-GS-z14-0,' said Gergö Popping, a European Southern Observatory astronomer at the European ALMA Regional Centre, in a statement. Popping did not participate in either study.
'It suggests galaxies can form more rapidly after the Big Bang than had previously been thought. This result showcases the important role ALMA plays in unraveling the conditions under which the first galaxies in our Universe formed.'
While Webb can help identify extremely distant galaxies, ALMA can zoom in to study the gas and dust within them by detecting the far-infrared light they emit, Carniani said. Studying such galaxies can help shed light on the many remaining mysteries of Cosmic Dawn, such as what occurred shortly after the universe first began and the identities of the first celestial objects to appear.
The study authors believe the early galaxies may have formed more stars, and stars on a more massive scale, than expected, which would also affect the brightness of the galaxy overall.
'It's like burning candles: you can have candles with a wide wick that have a bright flame (massive stars) or you can have candles that burn slow and efficient (normal stars),' Schouws said.
But more observations are needed to understand exactly what the researchers are seeing, he said.
The team wants to determine whether the galaxy and its rapid evolution are truly unique, or if there are more like it in the early universe since a single celestial object is not enough to establish a new model of galaxy formation, Carniani said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘City Killer' Asteroid Won't Hit Earth, But What Happens If It Slams Into The Moon?
Earth has dodged a celestial bullet, but the moon might not be so lucky, and that has scientists keeping their telescopes and minds trained on a massive asteroid called '2024 YR4.' That's not its official name, but more on that later. When it was first discovered, this asteroid had a very small chance of impacting Earth in December of 2032, but later observations concluded the space rock no longer poses any significant risk to our planet. Since then, additional data has helped experts refine the asteroid's potential trajectory and they say the probability of it striking the moon in 2032 has now risen to 4.3%. That's still a very small chance, but there could be some complications for our planet if that collision happens. (MORE: Lego Man's Epic Space Journey) Back To The Beginning 2024 YR4 first caught astronomers' attention in December 2024. It made headlines when its probability of impacting Earth got as high as 3%. It's so far away that it appears as just a tiny glimmer, but using infrared images captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scientists estimate that it's the size of a 10-story building, about 200 feet in diameter. It's considered a near-Earth asteroid, meaning it's in an orbit that brings it within Earth's region of the solar system. Its size earned the asteroid the nickname 'city killer' since it could cause severe damage to a city or region if it struck Earth. 2024 YR4 is the temporary name given to the rock. While those who discovered it will get to suggest an official name, it could be months or years before that official name is decided by the International Astronomical Union. What Happens If It Strikes The Moon? If this asteroid hits the moon, scientists say it will make impact at a speed of tens of thousands of miles per hour. That would create a huge crater, but more importantly, it could also send fragments of moon rock and granular lunar material flying off the moon. While it's unlikely the Earth would face any significant danger from the lunar strike, that debris could put nearby astronauts at risk, as well as satellites that we depend on for GPS, cellphones, internet and weather forecasting. What about the International Space Station? Well that would be at risk, except that NASA plans to decommission and deorbit the ISS in 2031, a year before the asteroid's potential impact. (MORE: New Images Show Universe Like Never Before) Would We Be Able To See The Collision? The latest calculations from June suggest it's likely the asteroid could hit the near side of the moon, the side pointing towards us. So we could be able to see the once-in-a-lifetime collision here on Earth. Dr. Paul Wiegert, a physics and astronomy professor at Western University told Western News, 'If YR4 hits the moon, it will be the largest asteroid to have hit the moon in about 5,000 years. It's quite a rare event.' Wiegert says, 'People at home will be able to see the explosion with small telescopes or even binoculars.' He also says that if moon rock is launched into space, 'We should also get to see quite a spectacular meteor shower,' within a week of the collision. So What Now? Asteroid 2024 YR4 is currently too far away to detect with space or ground-based telescopes, as it orbits around the sun. But out of sight, does not mean out of mind – NASA expects to make more observations and collect new data when the asteroid's orbit brings it back into Earth's vicinity in 2028. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Massive asteroid on potential impact path with the Moon could trigger destructive meteor shower on earth
What happens if an asteroid the size of a 15-story building crashes into the Moon in 2032? While the chances of the newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon in seven years are slim – there is currently a 96% chance it won't happen – an impact of this size would not come without consequences for the Moon, astronauts and spacecraft orbiting Earth. A new study submitted for review by scientists with the University of Western Ontario and Athabasca University in Canada took observations from the James Webb Space Telescope of asteroid 2024 YR4 and used simulations to show how much lunar debris would be ejected out into space, sending pieces of the Moon toward Earth. After its initial discovery late last year, the asteroid appeared to have a small chance of impacting Earth, warranting international attention, and jumping to the highest asteroid threat ever given on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. By February, more ground-based observations of the asteroid helped clear the threat to Earth, but the Moon still faces a possible impact. 3 Any lunar debris that makes it within Earth's atmosphere could create a meteor shower event over the planet. NASA Earlier this year, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists determine that the asteroid is between 175 and 220 feet in diameter. If Asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the Moon, it would create a crater more than half a mile in diameter (1 km), becoming the largest impact in about 5,000 years, according to the study. Current calculations show, if it happens, an impact would occur on the Southern Hemisphere. The researchers said this impact would threaten satellites in low-Earth orbit for days or up to a few months, and send a fraction of the ejecta toward Earth. 3 The current impact corridor for 2024 YR4 (yellow) projected on a map of the Moonâs near side from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Any lunar debris that makes it within Earth's atmosphere could create a meteor shower event over the planet. 'The resulting meteor shower could last a few days and be spectacular, though the number of visible meteors somewhat muted by the low entry speed of ejecta,' the research team said. With more than 10,000 active satellites in low-Earth orbit and more than 25,000 pieces of space junk, researchers believe an asteroid strike to the Moon could spell trouble for satellite operators. 3 On March 26, 2025, NASAâs James Webb Space Telescope captured images of asteroid 2024 YR4 that indicate the asteroid is about the size of a 15-story building. NASA 'Given the very large total exposed area for satellites by 2032, it becomes possible that hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris ejected by a lunar impact from 2024 YR4 will be experienced across the entire satellite fleet,' the study authors wrote. 'Such impacts may damage satellites, but are small enough to generally not end active missions or cause breakups.' The researchers say material from the Moon could be a 'serious hazard to moon-orbiting spacecraft' such as NASA's Lunar Gateway, a planned orbiting station for astronauts, and an 'even greater danger' to any lunar surface operations. Asteroid 2024 YR4 has moved behind the Sun, limiting any new observations until 2028. Scientists say those new observations in a few years will help improve lunar impact predictions.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Potential asteroid impact on Moon in 2032 could trigger massive meteor shower on Earth
What happens if an asteroid the size of a 15-story building crashes into the Moon in 2032? While the chances of the newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting the Moon in seven years are slim – there is currently a 96% chance it won't happen – an impact of this size would not come without consequences for the Moon, astronauts and spacecraft orbiting Earth. A new study submitted for review by scientists with the University of Western Ontario and Athabasca University in Canada took observations from the James Webb Space Telescope of asteroid 2024 YR4 and used simulations to show how much lunar debris would be ejected out into space, sending pieces of the Moon toward Earth. Odds Of Asteroid 2024 Yr4 Hitting The Moon Go Up Again After its initial discovery late last year, the asteroid appeared to have a small chance of impacting Earth, warranting international attention, and jumping to the highest asteroid threat ever given on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. By February, more ground-based observations of the asteroid helped clear the threat to Earth, but the Moon still faces a possible impact. Earlier this year, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope helped scientists determine that the asteroid is between 175 and 220 feet in diameter. If Asteroid 2024 YR4 crashes into the Moon, it would create a crater more than half a mile in diameter (1 km), becoming the largest impact in about 5,000 years, according to the study. Current calculations show, if it happens, an impact would occur on the Southern Hemisphere. The researchers said this impact would threaten satellites in low-Earth orbit for days or up to a few months, and send a fraction of the ejecta toward Earth. Any lunar debris that makes it within Earth's atmosphere could create a meteor shower event over the planet. "The resulting meteor shower could last a few days and be spectacular, though the number of visible meteors somewhat muted by the low entry speed of ejecta," the research team said. With more than 10,000 active satellites in low-Earth orbit and more than 25,000 pieces of space junk, researchers believe an asteroid strike to the Moon could spell trouble for satellite operators. "Given the very large total exposed area for satellites by 2032, it becomes possible that hundreds to thousands of impacts from mm-sized debris ejected by a lunar impact from 2024 YR4 will be experienced across the entire satellite fleet," the study authors wrote. "Such impacts may damage satellites, but are small enough to generally not end active missions or cause breakups." The researchers say material from the Moon could be a "serious hazard to moon-orbiting spacecraft" such as NASA's Lunar Gateway, a planned orbiting station for astronauts, and an "even greater danger" to any lunar surface operations. Asteroid 2024 YR4 has moved behind the Sun, limiting any new observations until 2028. Scientists say those new observations in a few years will help improve lunar impact article source: Potential asteroid impact on Moon in 2032 could trigger massive meteor shower on Earth Solve the daily Crossword
