UDFj-39546284 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UDFj-39546284 |
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Hubble Space Telescope image of UDFj-39546284 (seen as a reddish spot in the centre of the image)
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| Observation data | |
| Constellation | Fornax |
| Right ascension | 03h 32m 39.54s |
| Declination | -27° 46′ 28.4″ |
| Redshift | 11.9 |
| Distance | ~13.42 billion light-years (light travel distance) ~32.7(?) billion light-years (present comoving distance) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | V fainter than 30.1 H160 = 28.92 ± 0.18 J125 - H160 > 2 |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
UDFj-39546284 is a very old and distant group of stars, probably a galaxy. Scientists first saw its light in 2011 using the Hubble Space Telescope. It's special because the light we see left this object a very long time ago, making it one of the oldest things ever found in the universe.
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UDFj-39546284: A Glimpse into the Early Universe
This object is thought to be a very small, early galaxy. It was first spotted on January 27, 2011. Scientists used infrared light to detect it with the Hubble Space Telescope.
The light from UDFj-39546284 has traveled for about 13.42 billion years to reach us. This means we are seeing the galaxy as it looked that long ago. At that time, the universe was only about 380 million years old. The Big Bang, which started the universe, happened about 13.8 billion years ago.
How We See the Past
When we look at very distant objects in space, we are actually looking back in time. Light takes time to travel across the vast distances of the universe. So, the light from UDFj-39546284 started its journey billions of years ago.
By the time it reached the Hubble telescope, the galaxy itself had changed a lot. The image we see is like a snapshot from the very early universe. It shows a compact mini-galaxy made of young, blue stars.
Breaking Distance Records
When UDFj-39546284 was first announced, it was the oldest galaxy ever found. It was about 150 million light-years farther away than the previous record holder.
In December 2012, scientists confirmed its distance using more data. This made it the oldest galaxy known once again. Future telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope, will help us look even farther back in time.
What We Learn from UDFj-39546284
UDFj-39546284 is important because it formed very early in the universe's history. It appeared near the end of a period called the "Dark Ages." This was a time before many stars and galaxies had formed.
Studying objects like UDFj-39546284 helps scientists understand how the first galaxies began. It gives us clues about what the universe was like shortly after the Big Bang. Unlike some other distant objects, UDFj-39546284 has not been fully confirmed using a method called spectroscopy.
Images for kids
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UDFj-39546284
See also
In Spanish: UDFj-39546284 para niños
