Milky Way Formation and Observations Quiz

Galaxies that existed when the universe was only 5% of its current age and are much less massive than galaxies like the Milky Way.

The process by which light from a distant object is bent around a massive object in the foreground, making the object appear brighter and larger.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a powerful space telescope launched in 2021. It observes in infrared light, allowing us to see through dust clouds and study distant objects in the early universe.

A cluster of stars that formed together in the early universe.

An early galaxy that is rich in gas and actively forming new stars.

A galaxy that is being magnified by gravitational lensing, making it appear brighter and larger.

The process by which gas clouds in a galaxy collapse under their own gravity, forming stars.

The Canadian Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) is a project that uses gravitational lensing to study distant galaxies.

A type of star cluster that is thought to form early in the universe, at a redshift of z = 4. It is characterized by its high concentration of stars and its youthful age.

A large, massive object that acts as a magnifying glass for light from distant galaxies. This effect can be used to study distant galaxies that would otherwise be too faint to see.

The study of celestial objects and phenomena in the universe, including stars, planets, galaxies, and the intergalactic medium.

A measure of how much an object's light has been stretched due to the expansion of the universe. Higher redshift values correspond to greater distances and earlier times in the universe.

A measure of how far away an object is in space, based on the redshift of its light. Higher redshift indicates greater distance.

The total amount of mass in the universe that is made up of stars. It is a key quantity for studying the evolution of galaxies.

The point in time when the universe began, estimated to be about 13.8 billion years ago.

A measure of the amount of heavy elements (elements heavier than hydrogen and helium) in a star or galaxy. It can be used to infer the age and evolutionary history of the object.

A gravitationally bound collection of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, typically containing millions to trillions of stars.

A region of space where stars are born. It is characterized by its high density of gas and dust.

A large, flat, rotating disk of gas and dust that surrounds a central bulge. It is a common feature of spiral galaxies.

The amount of mass contained within a given volume, often used to describe the density of matter in galaxies and star clusters.

The process of how stars release energy through nuclear fusion in their core, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing light and heat.

The process by which galaxies evolve and change over time, driven by factors like star formation, mergers, and interactions with other galaxies.

The size of an object measured based on the width at half its maximum brightness. Used to estimate the size of star clusters.

The magnification of a lensed object in a particular direction, used to estimate the size of the object.

The area occupied by a star cluster, measured as the number of stars per unit area.

A tool astronomers use to measure the brightness of objects in the sky.

A specific type of light emitted by oxygen atoms, often used to study the composition and conditions of astronomical objects.

A measurement of the amount of light coming from a specific source, often used to understand the brightness and intensity of celestial objects.

A blend of two emission lines, [OIII]λ1661 and [OIII]λ1666, often used to study the ionization state of gas in space.

The process of estimating how much dust is present between an observer and a distant object, often using the relative intensities of different spectral lines.

The ratio of the intensities of different spectral lines, often used to determine the physical properties of an object.

The process of separating and analyzing the different wavelengths of light coming from a celestial object, often used to study its composition, temperature, and motion.

A type of spectrum that shows the light emitted from a single location on an object, often used to study the properties of a specific region.

A sudden decrease in the brightness of an object's light at a specific wavelength, often caused by the absorption of light by atoms.

The early universe was dominated by cold dark matter, which influenced the formation of galaxies. This model suggests that galaxies formed from the gradual accretion of gas and dark matter, leading to the development of complex structures like spiral and elliptical galaxies.

The TNG50 simulation, a cosmological simulation, has generated virtual galaxies that closely resemble the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in terms of size, mass, and structure.

The first 500 million years of the universe saw an intense burst of star formation, giving rise to disk galaxies comparable to the Milky Way. This early formation period is crucial for understanding the evolution of galaxies.

The Sparkler, a galaxy observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), showcases a unique phenomenon: evolving globular cluster candidates at a high redshift. These clusters, believed to be amongst the oldest known, are likely to hold valuable clues about the early universe.

The Sunburst Arc is a lensed galaxy discovered due to its brightness and direct emission of Lyman-alpha radiation. This phenomenon reveals the ongoing process of star formation in a distant galaxy, amplified by gravitational lensing.

The Gaia-RVS survey detected a disc galaxy with a thin structure at a redshift of z>4. This galaxy is considered the oldest thin disc found, suggesting that the formation of thin discs, similar to the Milky Way's, occurred very early in the universe.

This phenomenon occurs when galaxies are aligned in such a way that the foreground galaxy's gravity bends and focuses the light from the background galaxy. This magnification makes the distant galaxy appear brighter and more detailed.