Thanks to the gravitational lensing effect, scientists were able to discern a fairly light dwarf galaxy visible to us at a time only 600 million years after the Big Bang. It is very reminiscent of the Milky Way at the same age.
Firefly Sparkle Galaxy
For the first time, the James Webb Space Telescope has been able to not only see but also determine the mass of a dwarf galaxy that we don’t see until 600 million years after the origin of the Universe. It is particularly interesting because it resembles the Milky Way in its mass, as it should have been in those days.
In general, James Webb’s resolution is not enough to properly see small objects at this distance. However, the scientists were helped here by the gravitational lensing effect. The gravitational force of galactic clusters closer to us has curved the paths of light rays, but also amplified them.
Because of this, scientists saw something that resembled a swarm of insects. Due to this feature, the newly discovered galaxy was named Firefly Sparkle. With that, scientists have even been able to determine its mass from the way other objects are arranged around it.
What shape does the new galaxy have?
Of course, in this case, scientists don’t see the Firefly Sparkle Galaxy as it really is. However, knowing the configuration of galaxies that cause the gravitational lens effect can be a good way to reproduce its shape. Scientists have found that it resembles an elongated water droplet.
It was also found that much of the brilliance is due to the dozen massive star clusters that this galaxy has. Two of them are at the top of the “drop” and eight more are at the bottom.
The fact that this galaxy has exactly this shape and has not yet turned into a familiar disk with a bulge in the middle indicates that it is still in the formation stage. But even though the stars in it are still moving rather chaotically, they are already quite diverse.
Galactic satellites
Also interestingly, scientists have found two satellites in Firefly Sparkle Galaxy, which are also small groups of stars — galaxies or clusters depending on the classification. The first is only 6,500 light-years away, while the second is separated from it by a distance of 42,000 light-years.
All of this is actually on a very small scale. For comparison, the modern Milky Way has a diameter of 100,000 light-years, that is, all three galaxies would fit inside it. At the same time, they orbit around each other fast enough, the gas inside them condenses and turns into new stars.
Provided by science.nasa.gov
