Astronomers have discovered enormous star-forming clumps in nearby galaxies that mirror the turbulent birthplaces of stars in the early universe.
Key Points at a Glance
- Massive clumps of star formation, typically seen in early galaxies, are now found in nearby galaxy mergers
- Infrared imaging from JWST allowed astronomers to see through cosmic dust
- Findings help understand the evolution of galaxies and predict the future of the Milky Way
Astronomers from the University of Arizona have surveyed over 200 luminous and ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs and ULIRGs) in the local universe and discovered enormous star-forming clumps. These clumps, more massive than any found in the Milky Way, represent conditions thought to have existed in the early cosmos. Presented at the 246th meeting of the American Astronomical Society, the findings use data from the GOALS survey — a combination of observations from NASA’s Hubble, Spitzer, Chandra, and GALEX telescopes, recently enhanced with James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) infrared imaging.
These galaxies, actively merging, differ significantly from tranquil spirals like the Milky Way. Their violent collisions trigger bursts of star formation, generating compact regions brimming with stellar births — sometimes housing a million suns in a single clump. The discovery confirms predictions made by cosmological simulations and sheds light on the universe’s chaotic youth, offering a glimpse of what the Milky Way may look like when it eventually collides with the Andromeda galaxy.
JWST’s infrared capabilities were crucial, piercing through dense dust to reveal details previously hidden from view. The research validates long-held models of galactic evolution, showing that clumpy star formation dominated when the universe was young and dense. The local examples found by astronomers serve as time capsules, giving us a rare opportunity to study this ancient galactic behavior up close.
These results offer not just a look into the past, but a vision of the future. As the Milky Way and Andromeda inch toward an inevitable merger, similar star-forming clumps may light up our skies in the distant future. “The universe used to be much more violent,” says lead researcher Sean Linden, “and these galaxies give us a window into that time — and possibly a glimpse into our own destiny.”
Source: University of Arizona
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