Astronomers have discovered a ‘superheated’ cosmic factory in the early universe that is churning out stars at a rate 180 times faster than the Milky Way. This extraordinary celestial body, known as SPT0418-47, is situated 12 billion light-years away, meaning we are observing it as it was when the universe was just 1.4 billion years old. The factor of 180 is based on the comparison of the star formation rate of SPT0418-47 to that of the Milky Way.
The research team, led by the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Germany, used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to observe SPT0418-47. They also employed a technique called gravitational lensing, which involves using the gravity of a foreground galaxy to magnify a more distant one behind it. This allowed them to see the distant galaxy in unprecedented detail.
The galaxy SPT0418-47 is a type of galaxy called a starburst galaxy, which is a galaxy undergoing an exceptionally high rate of star formation. Starbursts are important to the study of galaxy evolution, as they are thought to be the precursors to elliptical galaxies, one of the two main types of galaxies along with spiral galaxies like the Milky Way.
The researchers were surprised to find that SPT0418-47, despite the chaos typically associated with rapid star formation, features a rotating, ordered gas disk. This is quite similar to the Milky Way’s structure, challenging the notion that all galaxies in the early universe were turbulent and unstable.
The team also found that this galaxy is forming stars in its outer ring at a much higher rate than in its center. This is unusual because galaxies typically form stars at a higher rate in their center. The reason for this peculiar activity is still unclear, warranting further investigation.
The discovery of SPT0418-47 is significant because it provides valuable insights into how galaxies evolved in the early universe. The researchers suggest that the high rate of star formation could be due to the large amounts of gas present in the early universe, which would have provided ample material for star creation.
Scientists will continue to study this fascinating galaxy with future observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in 2021. This telescope will be able to observe SPT0418-47 in even greater detail, allowing us to further improve our understanding of the early universe and the evolution of galaxies.