Alaknanda Galaxy Discovered: Indian Astronomers Find Milky Way-like Spiral Galaxy in Early Universe Using JWST

Indian scientists Rashi Jain and Yogesh Wadadekar have made a groundbreaking astronomical discovery: the detection of a spiral galaxy named Alaknanda, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This galaxy existed when the universe was only 1.5 billion years old, challenging existing theories about early galaxy formation.

Alaknanda Galaxy Discovered: Indian Astronomers Find Milky Way-like Spiral Galaxy in Early Universe Using JWST

Alaknanda’s Key Characteristics

The Alaknanda Galaxy, found in the Abell 2744 cluster field, is surprisingly well-organized and massive for its age.

• Type: A Spiral galaxy, similar to our Milky Way.
• Structure: Possesses two well-formed spiral arms.
• Star Formation Rate: Extremely rapid, at approximately 63 solar masses per year, which is 20–30 times faster than the Milky Way’s current rate.
• Distance: Located about 30,000 light-years away.

Scientific Significance

The discovery is pivotal because it directly challenges the long-held theory that early galaxies were small, irregular, and chaotic. Alaknanda proves that large, organized structures and rapid star formation could occur much earlier in cosmic history than previously assumed, forcing a re-evaluation of early universe galaxy formation models.

Naming Convention

The galaxy was named Alaknanda after the Himalayan river, a headstream of the Ganga. The name draws a poetic parallel, as the river Mandakini (Alaknanda’s sister river) is traditionally associated with the Milky Way in Indian culture.

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Question & Answer

Q1. The newly discovered spiral galaxy Alaknanda was detected using data from which advanced space telescope?
A) Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
B) Chandra X-ray Observatory
C) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
D) Very Large Telescope (VLT)
Answer: C) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Q2. Approximately how old was the universe when the Alaknanda Galaxy existed, as estimated by the astronomers?
A) 13.8 billion years
B) 5 billion years
C) 1.5 billion years
D) 500 million years
Answer: C) 1.5 billion years

Q3. The Alaknanda Galaxy was named after which major Indian river?
A) Yamuna
B) Godavari
C) Alaknanda
D) Mandakini
Answer: C) Alaknanda

Q4. The high rate of star formation in Alaknanda is estimated to be how many times faster than the Milky Way’s current rate?
A) 5–10 times
B) 10–15 times
C) 20–30 times
D) 50–60 times
Answer: C) 20–30 times

Q5. The discovery of the Alaknanda Galaxy primarily challenges the theory that early galaxies were:
A) Primarily composed of dark matter.
B) Chaotic, irregular, and slow to evolve.
C) Too distant to be observed by current telescopes.
D) Limited to only elliptical structures.
Answer: B) Chaotic, irregular, and slow to evolve.

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