Galaxy Proto-cluster in the Early Universe
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Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Video imagery:
- James Webb Space Telescope infrared image of JADES-ID1 region: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
- Multi-wavelength infrared and X-ray image of JADES-ID1. X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/Á Bogdán; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI
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[00:00:00.00] A collage of images of galaxies, stars, a rover, planets and other celestial objects scrolls past. A title: New from the Universe, rests atop a planet.
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[00:00:00.17] [COSMIC MUSIC]
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[00:00:10.87] Text: February 27, 2026. Galaxy proto-cluster in the early universe.
[00:00:18.45] Astronomers have discovered a galaxy cluster forming much earlier in the universe's history than expected.
[00:00:23.70] A box surrounds a blue highlighted region of a photo, which encompasses many brightly shining celestial objects.
[00:00:29.86] Text: The discovery of the proto-cluster, named JADES-ID1, was made through joint observations with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory.
[00:00:43.35] The proto-cluster existed only about one billion years after the big bang. The previous record holder for a proto-cluster with X-ray emission is much later, about three billion years after the big bang.
[00:01:00.18] Webb counts at least 66 galaxy members assembling in a huge pool of superheated gas, shown in blue, which was detected by Chandra.
[00:01:09.19] The image zooms in on the box containing the blue shaded pool of superheated gas. Orange circles surround galaxy members in the close-up image. Text: This proto-cluster was discovered in one of the few areas of the sky where Webb and Chandra's deepest images overlap, and there could be many more waiting to be found.
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[00:01:26.27] Now astronomers will rethink when and how quickly galaxy clusters, the largest gatherings of mass in the universe, began to form.
[00:01:37.31] This news was brought to you in part by the Chandra X-Ray Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.