Astronomers have detected Milky Way-like galaxies further back in the universe’s history than they previously expected to.
The Milky Way is a spectacular galaxy, not just because it is home to our solar system but also because of its bar-like design. Now, astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have discovered barred Milky Way-like galaxies much further back in time than we previously expected to find them.
In modern times, around two-thirds of the spiral galaxies we have discovered are “barred.” This means that they have a massive structure that resembles a bar running through their core. This bar is made up of dust and gas as the galaxy funnels it from the outer reaches of the galaxy to the center, fueling new star formation and the growth of black holes.
