Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have made an intriguing discovery, identifying a ghostly object known as AzTECC71. This object, initially observed as a glowing blob from ground-based telescopes, then mysteriously disappeared in images taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, only to reappear in the JWST image.
What makes this finding even more interesting is that AzTECC71 is classified as a dusty star-forming galaxy. These types of galaxies were once believed to be rare in the early universe, but this discovery suggests they may be more common than previously thought. Furthermore, it implies that the early universe was dustier than scientists had initially believed.
The COSMOS-Web project, led by Caitlin Casey at the University of Texas at Austin, aims to map up to 1 million galaxies to better understand the earliest structures of the universe. Dusty star-forming galaxies pose a challenge to study in optical light due to dust absorption. This is where the JWST’s infrared capabilities become crucial.
AzTECC71 was first detected as a blob of dust emission and was then located using data from the ALMA telescope in Chile. Its estimated redshift indicates that the galaxy is being viewed approximately 900 million years after the Big Bang.
The team behind this discovery is now focused on finding more of these JWST-faint galaxies. By uncovering and studying additional examples, they hope to gather valuable insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope continues to provide ground-breaking discoveries, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge about the cosmos. As more data is obtained and analyzed, it is certain that more surprises, like AzTECC71, will be unveiled, deepening our understanding of the universe’s origins and evolution.
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