Galaxy confirmed as farthest from Earth ever found

A GALAXY cluster 10.2 billion light years away has been named as the farthest from Earth ever found.

The group of galaxies, known as JKCS041, beats the previous record holder by about a billion light years. It appears as it was when Earth was only a quarter of its present age.

The bunch, containing hundreds of galaxies, was analysed by combining data from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory (which has been in orbit since 1999) with data from optical and infrared telescopes.

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe.

Scientists hope that the findings will reveal more about how the universe evolved by studying its characteristics such as composition, mass and temperature.

JKCS041 was first detected in 2006 with infrared observations. But scientists were not sure if it was a true galaxy cluster, rather than one in the act of forming.

Dr Ben Maughan, from the University of Bristol, carried out a long-term analysis of the Chandra X-ray data which has proved JKCS041 to be a fully formed cluster. The previous record holder, XMMXCS J2215.9-1738, was 9.2 billion light years away and was discovered in 2006.

“This discovery is exciting because it is like finding a Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil that is much older than any other known,” Maugham said. “One fossil might just fit in with our understanding of dinosaurs, but if you found many more you would have to start rethinking how dinosaurs evolved. The same is true for galaxy clusters and our understanding of cosmology.”

JKCS041 is at the farthest point at which scientists think galaxy clusters can exist in the early universe.

Stefano Andreon of the National Institute for Astrophysics in Milan, Italy, said: “This object is close to the distance limit expected for a galaxy cluster. We don’t think gravity can work fast enough to make galaxy clusters much earlier.

“What’s exciting about this discovery is the astrophysics that can be done with detailed follow-up studies.”