ⓘ NASA
NASA’s official logo
Two powerful NASA observatories looked deeply into a patch of sky and found a galaxy cluster forming only about one billion years after the Big Bang. Scientists never expected to find something as massive as a galaxy cluster at such an early time in the universe’s existence.
When a cosmic object is observed, its distance tells us how far back in time we are observing the object. For this new discovery, scientists found a galaxy cluster in its formative years, only about one billion years after the Big Bang. The galaxy cluster is called JADES-ID1. The cluster was found in the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), hence its name. The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.
Given that JADES-ID1 is still forming, it is referred to as a protocluster. Before now, the earliest protocluster observed with X-ray emission was seen about three billion years after the Big Bang. So seeing JADES-ID1 about two billion years earlier is quite profound.
Interestingly, JADES-ID1 has a mass about 20 trillion times that of the Sun. Scientists are now wondering how something that massive formed so quickly.
The discovery was made thanks to observations from both the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. When they observed JADES-ID1, two properties confirmed that it was indeed a protocluster. Firstly, Webb saw at least 66 potential galaxies held together by gravity. Secondly, Chandra observed that the galaxies were sitting in a huge cloud of hot gas.
Scientists expect JADES-ID1 to evolve from a protocluster into a massive galaxy cluster after billions of years — one as massive as the ones seen closer to Earth.
An image of the galaxy cluster
Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 369 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.