The James Webb Space Telescope has broken several astronomical records since it started operating last year. With a lens the size of a tennis court and a sensitive sensor, clearer images can be taken than the Hubble space telescope. This week James Webb broke another record this time the most distant star ever seen in the history of human civilization.
Earendel's star is located about 28 billion light years from Earth and is estimated to have existed 1 billion years after the Big Bang. Continuing the infrared image taken by James Webb, scientists say Earendel is one million times brighter and two times hotter than the sun.
What's interesting about Earendel is that it's actually nestled behind the galaxy cluster WHL0137-08. Due to its large size, WHL0137-08's gravity repels light than Earendel allows it to be seen. This "gravity lens" phenomenon has contributed to Earendel's size increasing 4000 times than it would have been if the image had been captured by James Webb.
Tags
SCIENCES