Jakarta –
Researchers have finally uncovered the details of a galaxy which is far away, dark, and almost impossible to see. This galaxy, filled with dust and gas, was formed 2 billion years after the Big Bang.
This means that the galaxy formed more than 11 billion years ago when the universe was one-sixth its current size. Its appearance is so dim, distant, and obscured by dust that it is nearly invisible at every wavelength of light.
A rare moment, this billion year old galaxy is finally visible. The gravitational trick that was originally coined by Albert Einstein finally made it possible.
Analysis of galaxy dim it was also published on February 3 in The Astrophysical Journal. “Galaxies that are very far away are a mine of information about the evolutionary past and future of our universe,” said International School of Advanced Studies in Italy (SISSA) astrophysicist Marika Giulietti in a statement, quoted from Live Science.
Giulietti said studying the galaxy is very difficult. Distance and very weak light is a challenge.
Utilizing Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity
The research team utilized Einstein’s general theory of relativity to observe distant galaxies. The theory says that massive objects like galaxies or individual stars distort the space around them, so that any light that passes through is magnified.
That means that scientists can use large objects as cosmic magnifiers to view distant celestial bodies, provided they are aligned with each other. The effect is known as gravitational lensing, which helps astronomers observe some of the oldest galaxies in the universe.
Unfortunately, due to the large amount of dust that gets in the way, this old galaxy remains difficult to see even with gravitational lensing. That’s why astronomers also use the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), a set of 66 radio telescopes in Chile.
The researchers use this tool because the dust absorbs and re-emit light. Submillimeter telescopes are often used to observe dusty celestial bodies.
While ALMA can only reveal so much about this young galaxy, observators like the James Webb Space Telescope will hopefully one day be able to unravel the galaxy in greater detail, said SISSA Astrophysicist Andrea Lapi.
Learn galaxy like these help scientists understand the early universe and how galaxies like ours evolved.
Watch Video “Appearance of a Milky Way-like Galaxy in the Young Universe“
(nah/gas)
