Observations by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are increasing our early understanding of the universe. These observations indicate the presence of large and maturely compact galaxies.
Astronomers said the data obtained by the telescope suggests that six large galaxies appear to be as mature as our Milky Way, about 540 million to 770 million years after the explosive Big Bang that emerged from the universe 13.8 billion years ago. At that time the universe was about 3% of its present age.
New information about galaxies
Explain that these galaxies, one of which appears to rival our Milky Way but is 30 times more densely packed, appear to be fundamentally different from those populating the universe today.
Information is being collected from the year 2021
Explain that the web was launched in 2021 and started collecting data last year. The findings are based on the first dataset released to the web by NASA last July from a telescope boasting infrared-sensing instruments capable of detecting light from the most ancient stars and galaxies.
surprising and unexpected discovery
‘This is a surprising and unexpected finding,’ said Penn State astrophysicist and study co-author Joel Leja. Galaxies form over much longer periods than we thought. No one expected to find them. These galaxies are very developed. They seem to have evolved faster than our Standard Model allows.’