What epoch did JWST identify stellar collections forming, pushing the age limit back?
Answer
When the universe was only about 460 million years old
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has extended the observable frontier of cluster formation by detecting extremely distant and ancient collections of stars. These instruments have found structures that formed when the universe was only approximately 460 million years old. This detection pushes the known lower limit for dense cluster formation back to the era of the Cosmic Dawn, several billion years prior to when the Milky Way's own Globular Clusters were thought to have assembled. These primordial structures are considered direct ancestors to the GCs seen locally today, representing the earliest stages of galactic assembly.
Related Questions
Which cluster type is considered the absolute oldest inhabitant of our galaxy?What is the estimated age range for most Milky Way Globular Clusters?Where are Open Clusters generally found within a spiral galaxy structure?What chemical signature indicates the primordial composition of Globular Cluster stars?How old is the older Open Cluster example, Messier 67 (M67)?What feature maintains the nearly spherical structure of Globular Clusters over cosmic time?Where are Globular Clusters typically found relative to the galactic disk?What epoch did JWST identify stellar collections forming, pushing the age limit back?What functional role do the oldest star clusters, primarily globular ones, serve for astronomers?Globular clusters are thought to have formed during what kind of early universe event?