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MoM-z14

Coordinates: Sky map 10h 00m 22.40s, +02° 16′ 23.19″
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

MoM-z14
Image of MoM-z14 taken with NIRcam on the James Webb Space Telescope
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationSextans
Right ascension10h 00m 22.40s
Declination+02° 16′ 23.19″
Redshift14.44+0.02
−0.02[1]
Distance13.53 billion light-years
(light travel distance)
33.8 billion light-years
(proper distance)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)20.2
Characteristics
TypeLyman-break galaxy
Size241+49
−39 light years
Notable featuresFarthest confirmed galaxy discovered

MoM-z14 is the most distant known galaxy, with a redshift of z = 14.44. The galaxy was first imaged on May 16, 2025 by the NIRcam instrument aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). That image captured the galaxy during its formation about 280 million years after the Big Bang, during the Reionization Era of the early universe.[3] This was the stage of cosmic evolution when neutral hydrogen began once again to ionize due to energy radiated by the earliest celestial objects.[1][2][4]

MoM-z14 is a remarkably luminous and compact galaxy, with an effective radius of only 241+49
−39 light years, making it about one percent the size of the Milky Way.[1][5] The very large degree of lookback present in high-z objects allows them to be imaged, as opposed to merely detected as points of light. This is because the light from MoM-z14 was emitted when it was far closer, and its source apparently larger, to the point in space which the space telescope that discovered it now occupies.

It contains around 108 solar masses, somewhat less than the Small Magellanic Cloud's 3 billion M☉. At the time it was imaged, representing its appearance some 13.53 billion years ago, MoM-z14 appears to have gone through a period of rapid star formation. This enriched the metallicity of the galaxy to a level not presently accounted for in current models of early galaxy formation. This burst of star-formation also gave off large quantities of energetic photons, which have travelled through a virtually dust free interstellar medium (ISM), leaving the immediate surroundings of MoM-z14 partially ionized.[1]

Discovery

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MoM-z14 was discovered on May 16, 2025 by 46 astrophysicists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).[1] Telescopes launched prior to the JWST did not have mirrors large enough to detect light coming from these distant galaxies. The Spitzer telescope was an infrared telescope but was not large enough to detect MoM-z14. With its size and primary mission to study the assembly of galaxies, the JWST was able to detect MoM-z14.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Naidu, R.P.; Oesch, P.A.; Brammer, G.; Weibel, A.; Li, Y.; Matthee, J.; Chisholm, J.; Pollock, C.L.; Heintz, K.E.; Johnson, B.D.; Shen, X.; Hviding, R.E.; Leja, J.; Tacchella, S.; Ganguly, A.; Witten, C.; Atek, H.; Belli, S.; Bose, S.; Bouwens, R.; et al. (January 30, 2026). "A Cosmic Miracle: A Remarkably Luminous Galaxy at zspec = 14.44 Confirmed with JWST". The Open Journal of Astrophysics. 9. arXiv:2505.11263v2. Bibcode:2026OJAp....956033N. doi:10.33232/001c.156033.
  2. 1 2 Siegel, Ethan (May 21, 2025). "JWST breaks its own record with new most distant galaxy MoM-z14". Big Think.
  3. ↑ Mogensen, Jackie Flynn (January 28, 2026). Cameron, Claire (ed.). "JWST spots most distant galaxy ever, pushing the limits of the observable universe". Scientific American.
  4. ↑ Robert Lea (May 30, 2025). "'Cosmic miracle!' James Webb Space Telescope discovers the earliest galaxy ever seen". Space. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  5. ↑ Lian, Jianhui; et al. (2024). "The size of the Milky Way galaxy". arXiv:2406.05604 [astro-ph.GA]. 5.75±0.38 kpc
  6. ↑ Gough, Evan (May 22, 2025). Lock, Lisa; Zinin, Andrew (eds.). "The new, farthest galaxy has been found by JWST, only 280 million years after the Big Bang". Phys.org. Universe Today. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
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