Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 04-May-2022
Time: 16:05-17:00 (4:05-5:00 pm)
Location: ATL 2400
Speaker: Dr. Dan Coe & Brian Welch (STScI & JHU)
Title: Observing the First Galaxies and a Distant Star with Hubble, JWST, and Gravitational Lensing
Hubble has revealed galaxies 97% of the way back to the Big Bang. The most distant appear to us as pale infrared dots. Gravitational lensing magnifies some early galaxies, enabling us to study them in detail down to parsec-scale star clusters and even an individual star, Earendel recently discovered at z = 6. JWST will study Earendel and the first galaxies, showing us what they are made of: perhaps including pristine Population III stars, or perhaps already enriched with heavy metals. JWST will observe lensed galaxies as distant as MACS0647-JD at z = 11 and finally reveal even more distant galaxies in the first 3% of cosmic history, the first 400 million years. I predict lensing will be the key to discovering the first galaxies with JWST.
Colloquia for the Fall 2020 semester will be held on zoom. Contact Dr. Leslie Sage for details.
Colloquium Organizer:
Dr. Leslie Sage
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
