NASA: Webb telescope reveals links between galaxies

UC physicist contributes to analysis of distant galaxies

NASA talked to a University of Cincinnati physicist about the significance of imaging extremely young galaxies using the James Webb Space Telescope.

UC College of Arts and Sciences postdoctoral researcher Keunho Kim was co-author on a research team that published a study in January in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. They examined compact galaxies undergoing high rates of star formation called “green peas.”

A fuzzy blue-green orb represents a distant pea galaxy.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured what is believed to be a 'green pea' galaxy. Image/NASA, ESA, CSA and STScl

According to NASA, these galaxies depict colors — greens and reds — created by brightly glowing gas clouds.

“Peas may be small, but their star-formation activity is unusually intense for their size, so they produce bright ultraviolet light,” Kim told NASA. “Thanks to ultraviolet images of green peas from Hubble and ground-based research on early star-forming galaxies, it’s clear that they both share this property.”

The telescope was launched into orbit more than a year ago. It's offering the best look to date at distant phenomena in the universe.

Kim's research group presented its findings at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle.

Read NASA's story.

Featured image at top: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured galaxies with properties similar to 'green peas,' young, compact galaxies that generate new stars. Image/NASA, ESA, CSA and STScl

NASA: Webb telescope reveals links between galaxies

UC physicist contributes to analysis of distant galaxies

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