James Webb Space Telescope captures another “question mark” galaxy

Once again, the James Webb Space Telescope has spotted a galaxy shaped like a question mark. Are we alone in the universe? What’s the purpose of life? Are there multiple dimensions and universes? Well, looks like the universe itself wonders, too.

Around this time last year, eagle-eyed viewers spotted the first galaxy that looked like a question mark. But the newly discovered one isn’t the same as before. It’s part of an image of galaxy cluster MACS-J0417.5-1154, a massive cosmic structure that distorts space-time. Due to its immense gravitational force, this cluster bends light traveling past it, similar to a magnifying glass. This phenomenon, known as gravitational lensing, can even cause the same galaxy to appear multiple times in a single image.

In this particular case, the question mark galaxy is part of a rare alignment across light-years of space, offering astronomers a unique opportunity to study the early universe. “We know of only three or four occurrences of similar gravitational lens configurations in the observable universe,” astronomer Guillaume Desprez said in a statement. “This find demonstrates the power of Webb and suggests we may discover more of these in the future.”

While NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope had previously observed this region, the dusty red galaxy that forms the question mark shape only became visible with Webb. This is because Webb’s infrared instruments can detect longer wavelengths of light that can pass through cosmic dust, unlike Hubble’s visible light capabilities.

By studying the distorted galaxies in this image, astronomers can gain valuable insights into their properties and the conditions in the early universe. In addition to its scientific significance, the question mark galaxy’s distinctive shape has captured the imagination of astronomers. “This is just cool looking,” said astronomer Marcin Sawicki of Saint Mary’s University, one of the lead researchers on the team. “Amazing images like this are why I got into astronomy when I was young.”

The research team also used Webb’s data to study star formation within the galaxies, finding that both galaxies are actively forming stars. This information provides valuable clues about the evolution of galaxies over the history of the universe. Looks like lots of questions are stored in that cosmic question mark – and it might just give us the answers.

The Webb images and spectra in this research came from the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS). The research paper is published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

[via Digital Trends; lead image credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Vicente Estrada-Carpenter (Saint Mary’s University)]

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