A galaxy called Firefly Sparkle has been detected by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, an important discovery. According to research published in Nature on December 11, this galaxy existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang and has a mass similar to that of the Milky Way at a comparable stage of evolution. The discovery reveals unique insights into the early universe, as previously identified galaxies from this era were much larger.
Reports indicate that the Firefly Sparkle Galaxy is distinguished by its ten active star clusters. These clusters were analyzed in detail by the researchers, revealing sequential star formation rather than simultaneous activity. Gravity causes this galaxy to appear as a long, stretched arc in images
Lensing caused by a giant foreground galaxy cluster.
Principal investigator Chris Willott of the Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Center in Canada said Webb’s data revealed a variety of star clusters within the galaxy. Willott was quoted as saying that each clump is going through a different stage of development.
According to Nature, gravitational lensing greatly enhanced the visibility of the firefly sparkle, allowing astronomers to resolve its components. Lamia Mowla, assistant professor at Wellesley College, emphasized the importance of this event, pointing out that without this effect, it would not be possible to observe such details in early galaxies.
Galactic neighbors and future evolution
Two companion galaxies located 6,500 and 42,000 light-years away from the firefly sparkle are expected to influence its evolution over billions of years. Interactions with these galaxies could fuel large-scale growth through merger processes, Yoshihisa Asada, a doctoral student at Kyoto University, said in a statement.
The research is part of Webb’s Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) program, which provides unique insights into the early years of the universe.
