Deepest Ever Deep Field. Where Are The Limits of James Webb?

Fraser Cain・2 minutes read

The James Webb Space Telescope, an advanced technology succeeding the Hubble, is poised to deliver groundbreaking insights into galaxy formations with its enhanced capabilities and potential to reveal previously unseen structures and shapes in the universe. Collaboration efforts and open-source science initiatives aim to maximize benefits and data accessibility in upcoming astronomical surveys and research projects.

Insights

  • Dr. Vaj Panda, known for his work on the Hubble Deep Field, has conducted groundbreaking research using the James Webb Space Telescope, identifying unique galaxy shapes like "bread sticks" in the early Universe, showcasing the potential of this advanced technology in revealing previously unseen aspects of galaxy evolution and structure.
  • The James Webb Space Telescope has demonstrated a significant improvement in detecting disc galaxies compared to the Hubble Space Telescope, with disc fractions rising from less than 10% to 40-50% in James Webb Imaging, indicating its capacity to deepen our comprehension of galaxy formations, especially through collaborative initiatives like the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (SEERS), which have been pivotal in uncovering new insights into galaxy structures and evolution.

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Recent questions

  • What is the Hubble Deep Field?

    Image capturing thousands of galaxies at edge of vision.

  • How does the James Webb Space Telescope differ from Hubble?

    More advanced, faster, promising results in initial tests.

  • What unique galaxy shapes has Dr. Vaj Panda discovered?

    Unique shapes like "bread sticks" in early Universe.

  • What are satellite galaxies of the Milky Way like?

    Some inactive due to depleted gas reserves, others forming stars.

  • How do larger galaxy clusters differ from the Milky Way's local group?

    More red and dead galaxies, elliptical shapes compared to local group.

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Summary

00:00

"Galaxy Discoveries: Hubble to James Webb"

  • The Hubble Deep Field is a renowned image in astronomy, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope after hours of observation, revealing thousands of galaxies at the edge of its vision.
  • The James Webb Space Telescope, more advanced and faster than Hubble, is expected to conduct its version of the Deep Field, showing promising results in initial tests.
  • Dr. Vaj Panda, involved in Hubble Deep Field projects, has conducted significant research using the James Webb Space Telescope, discovering unique galaxy shapes like "bread sticks" in the early Universe.
  • The Milky Way, a spiral galaxy, is surrounded by satellite galaxies, some inactive due to depleted gas reserves, while others like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are actively forming stars.
  • Larger galaxy clusters like the Virgo Supercluster exhibit more red and dead galaxies and elliptical shapes compared to the Milky Way's local group.
  • The Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized understanding of galaxy formation, detecting linear structures in distant galaxies, possibly due to a bias against detecting face-on spiral galaxies.
  • Selection effects and detection biases in astronomy can skew results, prompting astronomers to inject fake galaxies into images to understand data limits and potential biases.
  • The James Webb Space Telescope's early results have shown a significant increase in the detection of disc galaxies compared to Hubble, with disc fractions rising from less than 10% to 40-50% in James Webb Imaging.
  • James Webb's ability to reveal previously unseen disc galaxies highlights its potential to deepen our understanding of galaxy evolution and structure.
  • Collaborative efforts like the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (SEERS) with James Webb Space Telescope have been instrumental in uncovering new insights into galaxy formations and structures.

15:37

Galaxies' Shapes: Linear to Spiral Evolution

  • JWST has detected round face-on discs that Hubble missed, solving a puzzle of linear Galactic structures.
  • The SEAR team characterized the distribution of projected ellipticities of galaxies in JWST imaging.
  • Galaxies are characterized by the ratio of short axis to long axis of their best fitting ellipse.
  • A simple counting exercise reveals an asymmetric distribution skewed towards elongated linear galaxies.
  • Early galaxies may be shaped like breadsticks, flattened along a second axis, not circular discs.
  • These galaxies are embedded in elongated Dark Matter Halos, oriented similarly to the stars' long axis.
  • Galaxies form along Dark Matter filaments, leading to mergers and star formation.
  • Linear galaxies may point towards each other in 3D, indicating a potential for future galaxy formation.
  • High-resolution simulations suggest a transition from linear to spiral galaxy formation over time.
  • Future studies with the Roman Space Telescope aim to detect galaxy alignments and obtain spectra to determine galaxy shapes.

32:01

"Future Telescopes: Pushing Astronomical Boundaries"

  • Spectra can be obtained at various points along the Galaxy's face, allowing for constraints on the gas velocity field.
  • Obtaining constraints for stars will be challenging, requiring several hours and focusing on the brightest ones.
  • Large web surveys, like SEERS, JADES, and NG DEEP, aim for deeper integration and broader sky coverage.
  • Ultra-deep JWST surveys are planned to detect galaxies at redshift 15-20, surpassing Hubble's capabilities.
  • Hubble's deep fields required extensive observing time, with each part of the mosaic taking about two months.
  • SEERS, using JWST, achieved significant results in less than an hour, surpassing Hubble's capabilities.
  • JWST's improved technology allows for detecting fainter sources, enhancing galaxy characterization.
  • Balancing depth and width in JWST observations is crucial, considering future telescopes like the Roman Space Telescope.
  • The potential limits of JWST observations, such as excessive data leading to diminishing returns, are yet to be fully explored.
  • Future telescopes like the Habitable Worlds Observatory aim to push the boundaries of astronomical observations further.

47:42

"High-resolution tech detects star regions in galaxies"

  • The 8-meter version of the technology offers 100 parsec resolution for galaxies existing 10 billion years ago, aiding in detecting individual star forming regions with detailed clarity.
  • The James Webb Deep Field is still a couple of years away, with proposals currently being evaluated by NASA and the Space Telescope Science Institute, expecting decisions in the next month and observations to be scheduled within a year.
  • Previous surveys like Candles on the Hubble Deep Field involved large teams of astronomers jointly awarded time, hinting at a potential future collaboration for upcoming surveys to maximize benefits and data accessibility.
  • The move towards open-source science involves sharing data, codes, models, and properly processed imaging with the community, promoting collaborative research and benefiting from collective expertise.
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