Not one but six interacting galaxies, here is the latest discovery regarding HFLS3

In the annals of cosmic history, the early Universe was akin to a wild cosmic party. The first two billion years after the Big Bang, approximately 13.8 billion years ago, were marked by intense star formation and the birth of galaxies. However, interpreting the ancient light that has journeyed across the cosmic expanse is no easy feat, often leading to misconceptions. One such case of mistaken identity has recently been uncovered, HFLS3 — a supposed galaxy turned out to be a fascinating confluence of six galaxies.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Discovered in 2013, HFLS3 was initially thought to be a single galaxy, existing just 880 million years after the Big Bang. This galaxy seemed to be a hotbed of star formation, churning out stars at a rate that was nearly impossible to comprehend.

However, new data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the most powerful space telescope currently in operation, has shattered the initial understanding. It turns out, HFLS3 is not a singular galaxy but a conglomeration of six galaxies in the throes of a monumental cosmic collision.

Enter the JWST

The analysis of this revelation was led by astrophysicist Gareth Jones of the University of Oxford. Their study has been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics and is also available on the preprint server, arXiv.

HFLS3 was initially discovered via data from the Herschel space telescope. It was identified at the brink of the Universe during the Epoch of Reionization, producing stars at an astounding rate of around 3,000 solar masses per year. To put that into perspective, the Milky Way, which is believed to be similar in mass to HFLS3, produces a mere 8 solar masses of stars per year.

The Unveiling of the Six Galaxies

The JWST, with its advanced near-infrared NIRSpec instrument, was up for the task to delve deeper into the mysteries of HFLS3. In September 2022, the telescope took observations of the area of sky where HFLS3 is located. Jones and his team scrutinized the data.

After processing the data and studying the warped light that had traveled across the Universe, they discovered signs of six distinct galaxies within HFLS3.

The Cosmic Collision

HFLS3, it turns out, consists of three pairs of small galaxies locked in a gravitational waltz, leading them towards an inevitable collision. This collision is projected to happen within a billion years of the observation - a relatively short time frame considering the epic scale of galactic collisions.

The proximity of these galaxies and their gravitational interactions are stirring up star-forming material, causing it to ignite with star formation at an extremely high rate. This explains the previously puzzling high rate of star formation observed in HFLS3.

The Cosmic Dawn

The discovery provides a fantastic snapshot into the interactions and growth of galaxies during the period known as the Cosmic Dawn. The researchers believe this warrants further and closer investigation, both of this and other similar cosmic sources.

"Taken together, our results require a drastic reinterpretation of the HFLS3 field," they write in their paper. "HFLS3 is likely not an extreme starburst, but instead represents one of the densest groups of interacting star-forming galaxies within the first billion years of the Universe."

This research is a testament to the constant evolution of our understanding of the Universe. It underscores the power of advanced technological tools like the JWST in uncovering the mysteries of the cosmos. In the grand cosmic dance, as galaxies swirl, merge, and collide, we continue to witness the unfolding of the Universe's magnificent saga.

The research has been accepted into Astronomy & Astrophysics, and is available on arXiv.

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