Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observed that galaxies grow from the inside out, according to a study published in 2006. Ta. natural astronomy.
This newly discovered galaxy has a dense center packed with stars, but the stars in the outer regions are less thick. Interestingly, new stars are forming rapidly in these outer regions, indicating that the galaxy is expanding outward.
Previously, it was impossible to study the growth of galaxies at such an early stage in the universe. But scientists at the University of Cambridge used JWST to capture the earliest evidence of this new galaxy’s growth.
“The question of how galaxies evolve over time is of vital importance in astrophysics,” explained Dr. Sandro Tacchera from the University of Cambridge. “We have data on nearby galaxies, but Webb gave us a view of galaxies billions of years ago, raising new questions about how the universe formed.”
How galaxies form
“Galaxies start small as gas clouds collapse under their own gravity and form dense cores of stars. As they collect more gas, they spin faster and grow. This , similar to a skater pulling his arm to spin faster. This movement often causes galaxies to form spirals or disks.”
The observed galaxies, part of the JWST Advanced Extragalactic Exploration (JADES), are actively forming stars. Its core is already as dense as older massive galaxies. Star formation typically occurs further away from the center, where star-forming “clumps” are further away.
Scientists used JWST to confirm predictions that as galaxies grow, star formation spreads into their outer regions. “Thanks to Webb, we can now observe things that previously could only be modeled,” said doctoral student William Baker, co-author of the study. “It’s like checking your homework with real data.”
Using JWST’s advanced instruments, the team studied the light emitted by galaxies to estimate the number of young and old stars, which they then translated into the size of the galaxy and the rate of star formation.
Rapid star formation in the outer regions means that galaxies double their size in these regions every 10 million years. This is in stark contrast to the Milky Way galaxy, which takes 10 billion years for the same growth.
This galaxy’s dense core and high star formation rate suggest it is rich in gas for star formation, likely reflecting the varying conditions of the early Universe. .
“Of course, this is just one galaxy,” Dr. Tatchera pointed out. “We are now looking at other galaxies from the same era to see if this inside-out growth pattern was common. By studying galaxies through time, we can see how they We may be able to learn how the structure evolved into the structure we see today.”
