Webb & Hubble reveal relic of our galaxy’s formation
Astronomers using the James Webb and Hubble telescopes have identified Terzan 5 as a 'bulge fossil fragment' rather than a standard globular cluster. This discovery reveals that the object contains multiple generations of stars, offering clues about the early formation of the Milky Way.
Why it matters
This finding challenges existing classifications of galactic structures and provides a clearer timeline for the formation of the Milky Way's central bulge.
Researchers have confirmed a new class of objects within our Milky Way galaxy: survivors called 'bulge fossil fragments.' Terzan 5 is the prototype of these remnants of our galaxy's early formation. Using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescopes researchers have shown that Terzan 5 is not a globular star cluster as it was once classified. Instead, it is something much odder and rarer.
The article reports on scientific research findings without political or social bias.
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