admin In a remarkable cosmic event, scientists have observed a rare galactic merger named the “Cosmic Owl”, offering fresh insights into how galaxies and black holes evolved in the early universe. Captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), this phenomenon involves the head-on collision of two ring galaxies, each stretching about 26,000 light-years wide and located approximately 11 billion light-years from Earth.
This unique structure earned its nickname from its symmetrical shape, resembling an owl’s face. Both galaxies involved host supermassive black holes, known as active galactic nuclei (AGN), at their centers highlighting their extreme energy and activity. According to researchers, the collision took place around 38 million years ago, yet the effects remain visible due to the typically slow pace of galactic interactions.
The discovery was led by Mingyu Li, a doctoral student in astronomy at Tsinghua University in China, and his team. While studying public JWST data in a well-explored region of the sky called the COSMOS field, the researchers noticed the distinctive double-ringed structure. High-resolution imaging from JWST helped the pair stand out clearly from other galactic features.
To deepen their analysis, scientists also used data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Very Large Array (VLA). These observations confirmed that the system is composed of twin collisional ring galaxies, nearly identical in shape and size. This suggests a rare head-on merger between two galaxies of similar mass, a formation process seldom seen in the universe.
One of the most fascinating outcomes of this cosmic event is a burst of new star formation. The area referred to as the “beak” has turned into a stellar nursery, where stars are being born at a rapid pace. This starburst is believed to be triggered by jets released during the galactic collision, a process that fuels both star creation and black hole growth.
Researchers say this discovery presents an extraordinary opportunity to study multiple cosmic events unfolding simultaneously. It illustrates how galaxies assemble mass, how black holes grow, and how powerful interactions can ignite star formation.
The Cosmic Owl isn’t just visually striking; it’s a critical piece in the puzzle of understanding the early universe and the dramatic events that shaped it.
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