Another Early Universe Surprise from the JWST: A Mature Galaxy Cluster

A pair of images of the galaxy cluster XLSSC 122 from the Hubble (left) and the JWST (right). The cluster is 10 billion light-years away, making it the most distant strong gravitational lens known. It magnifies and distorts the images of other galaxies behind it. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA; Kyle Finner (Caltech/IPAC) Image processing: Robert Hurt (Caltech/IPAC-SELab)

The JWST found a galaxy cluster from 10 billion years ago that's far more developed than it should be, according to cosmological models. The cluster is also the most distant strong gravitational lens that we know of. Detailed observations across the spectrum show that the cluster is still undergoing mergers.

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