Latest news with #WebbSpaceTelescope
News18
2 days ago
- Science
- News18
Universe's Earliest Light Revealed: James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Image Of Cosmic Dawn
Last Updated: James Webb Space Telescope has captured the deepest and clearest image to date, offering us a glimpse of the universe's beginning, known as the 'Cosmic Dawn' The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful space observatory ever built, has achieved a remarkable feat that will excite everyone interested in space science. This telescope has captured the deepest and clearest image to date, offering us a glimpse of the universe's beginning, known as the 'Cosmic Dawn.' 'Cosmic Dawn' refers to the period when the universe was very young, just a few hundred million years old. Scientists believe that during this time, stars and galaxies began forming for the first time, roughly 13 billion years ago. Until now, it has been very difficult to observe such ancient objects directly. advetisement How Was This Picture Taken? In this historic image, the James Webb Telescope focused on a massive galaxy cluster called 'Abell S1063,' located about 4.5 billion light years away from Earth. This cluster was previously observed by the Hubble Telescope, but James Webb's more powerful infrared camera, NIRCam, allowed it to see deeper into space. The telescope observed this region continuously for 120 hours, capturing nine different images that were combined into a single, stunning picture. This is being called James Webb's deepest view yet. What Was Seen In The Picture? Behind the large galaxies in the image, faint, curved lines of light are visible. These lines are actually light from extremely distant galaxies that cannot be seen directly. The gravitational lensing effect caused by the massive galaxy cluster bends their light towards us, making them visible. Why Is This Discovery Special? Scientists say this image provides evidence that some galaxies formed just 200 million years after the universe came into existence. In other words, we can now witness the moments when the universe first began to 'shine.' The data also hints at glimpses of the very first stars, which is a major breakthrough. How close are we to understanding the universe's mysteries? This image is not just a scientific achievement; it is like a window into time. It proves that we have taken the first step towards uncovering the true story of the universe's birth. The success of the James Webb Telescope shows that humanity is now closer than ever to solving some of the oldest mysteries of time and space. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : galaxies James Webb Space Telescope space telescope First Published:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hi, 'Mom'! James Webb telescope discovers MoM-z14 — the most distant, early galaxy ever seen
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted the most distant galaxy observed to date — breaking its own record yet again. The galaxy, dubbed MoM-z14, is "the most distant spectroscopically confirmed source to date, extending the observational frontier to a mere 280 million years after the Big Bang," researchers wrote in a new study that appeared May 23 on the preprint server arXiv. In other words, the galaxy emitted light just 280 million years after the birth of the universe; after its long journey across the cosmos, that light is only now reaching Earth and JWST's infrared sensors. "It's pretty exciting," Charlotte Mason, an astrophysicist at the University of Copenhagen who wasn't involved in the study, told New Scientist. "It confirms that there really are these very bright galaxies in the universe." Since beginning operation in 2022, JWST has spotted more bright, ancient galaxies than scientists expected, challenging previous theories about the universe's infancy. "This unexpected population has electrified the community and raised fundamental questions about galaxy formation in the first 500 [million years after the Big Bang]," the authors wrote. As more examples trickle in, scientists are working to confirm whether these luminous objects really are ancient galaxies. Study lead author Rohan Naidu, an astrophysicist at MIT, and colleagues combed through existing JWST images for potential early galaxies to check. After identifying MoM-z14 as a possible target, they turned the telescope toward the peculiar object in April 2025. One way scientists can measure an astronomical object's age is by measuring its redshift. As the universe expands, it stretches the light emitted by distant objects to longer, "redder" wavelengths. The farther and longer the light has traveled, the larger its redshift. In the new study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, the team confirmed MoM-z14's redshift as 14.44 — larger than that of the previous record holder for farthest observed galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, at 14.18. Related: James Webb telescope sees 'birth' of 3 of the universe's earliest galaxies in world-1st observations MoM-z14 is fairly compact for the amount of light it emits. It's about 240 light-years across, some 400 times smaller than our own galaxy. And it contains about as much mass as the Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. RELATED STORIES —James Webb telescope spots Milky Way's long-lost 'twin' — and it is 'fundamentally changing our view of the early universe' —'I was astonished': Ancient galaxy discovered by James Webb telescope contains the oldest oxygen scientists have ever seen —'Totally unexpected' galaxy discovered by James Webb telescope defies our understanding of the early universe The researchers observed MoM-z14 during a burst of rapid star formation. It's also rich in nitrogen relative to carbon, much like globular clusters observed in the Milky Way. These ancient, tightly-bound groups of thousands to millions of stars are thought to have formed in the first few billion years of the universe, making them the oldest known stars in the nearby cosmos. That MoM-z14 appears similar could suggest that stars formed in comparable ways even at this very early stage in the universe's development. Though scientists still aim to confirm more high redshift galaxies, researchers expect to find even more candidates with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an infrared telescope designed to observe a large swath of the sky, which is set to launch by May 2027. But JWST may break its own record again before then. "JWST itself appears poised to drive a series of great expansions of the cosmic frontier," the authors wrote. "Previously unimaginable redshifts, approaching the era of the very first stars, no longer seem far away."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Webb Telescope Peers Back in Time Via New 'Deep Field' Image
The James Webb Space Telescope has recently captured some breathtaking shots of individual space bodies, from Neptune and its dreamy auroras to Jupiter's own massive light shows. But the telescope's latest image is going for depth, not focus. In a multi-layered snapshot shared by the European Space Agency (ESA) Tuesday, Webb peers back in time, bringing astronomers one step closer to examining so-called "Cosmic Dawn." This period began when the universe was just a few million years old, and based on what astronomers currently know, that's when the version of the universe we observe today began to take shape. Cosmic Dawn should have quite a bit to say about why our stellar setting is the way it is, making it a vital area of study for space scientists. But imaging Cosmic Dawn is easier said than done, and theory can only go so far. Tuesday's Webb image is as good a starting point as any. The image depicts Abell S1063, a behemoth galaxy cluster 4.5 billion light-years from Earth. While the Hubble Space Telescope captured Abell S1063 nine years ago, the galaxy cluster holds too much potential to be used just once: Its size bends the light of distant galaxies positioned "behind" it, allowing it to serve as a strong gravitational lens. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, H. Atek, M. Zamani In an effort to pick up where Hubble left off, Webb's NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) gazed at Abell S1063 and its surroundings. A total of 120 observation hours allowed Webb to take nine snapshots at various near-infrared wavelengths. Stacked together, these snapshots offer what the ESA calls "Webb's deepest gaze on a single target to date." While Abell S1063 dominates the image, the warped streaks of light are gravitational lensing in action. The streaks originate from "faint galaxies from the universe's distant pass," as the ESA puts it, lending scientists the potential to develop our understanding of the emergence of the first galaxies." And on that front, research has already begun. According to two preprint papers published on the arXiv, an international team of astrophysicists has used Webb's data to identify a host of candidate galaxies that could have formed as early as 200 million years after the Big Bang. They've even spotted signs of the first stars in the universe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Possible 'Hints' Of Life Found On Planet 124 Light-Years Away In James Webb Space Telescope Data
Data from the James Webb Space Telescope on exoplanet K2-18b has revealed the "strongest hints yet of biological activity outside the solar system," according to a University of Cambridge study. Credit: University of Cambridge
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Science
- See - Sada Elbalad
James Webb Telescope Captures Image of Most Distant Galaxy Ever Seen
Israa Farhan The James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery by capturing an image of the farthest galaxy ever observed. This galaxy, whose light has travelled across the universe for over 13 billion years, dates back to just 280 million years after the Big Bang, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the early stages of the cosmos. This incredible achievement breaks previous records and opens a new window for scientists to explore and understand the universe's infancy. The galaxy, named MoM-z14 by astronomers, has baffled scientists by being far brighter than expected for a galaxy of such extreme distance. Webb captured the galaxy as part of the "Miracle" program, which aims to identify and study galaxies from the early universe. What makes this discovery so remarkable is the fact that the light from MoM-z14 has been travelling for over 13 billion years to reach Earth. During its journey, the expanding universe stretched the light's wavelength, shifting it into the red spectrum, a phenomenon known as redshift. For MoM-z14, this redshift has reached an unprecedented level, surpassing any previously recorded measurements. Dr. Rohan Naidoo, leading the research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), explained that the galaxy's unexpected brightness indicates that it hosts a large number of young, luminous stars. The surprise, however, is that such a significant quantity of stars formed so early in the universe's history, challenging current models of galaxy formation just after the Big Bang. The James Webb Space Telescope's ability to capture this discovery stems from its advanced infrared imaging capabilities. Webb far surpasses earlier telescopes like Hubble and Spitzer in its ability to observe distant galaxies and their intricate structures. This cutting-edge technology not only allows astronomers to see galaxies that were once beyond our reach, but it also provides detailed insights into their formation and composition. In addition, scientists are employing the phenomenon of gravitational lensing to enhance Webb's observations. Large objects, such as the galaxy cluster Abell 2744 (commonly known as the Pandora Cluster), act as a natural lens, magnifying the light from galaxies further behind them. This technique enables scientists to uncover cosmic details that would otherwise remain hidden. This discovery is just the beginning, as astronomers expect the James Webb Space Telescope to break its own distance record again in the near future. The telescope is continuously observing the cosmos, and each new discovery helps scientists refine their understanding of how the first galaxies formed and evolved during the universe's early stages. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to redefine what is possible in the study of the universe, offering unprecedented views of the distant past. As it peels back the layers of time, each new observation provides valuable clues about the origins of galaxies, stars, and even the universe itself. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
