Astronomers Identify Most Distant Fully-Formed Spiral Galaxy, Zhúlóng

The James Webb Space Telescope reveals a massive spiral galaxy from the early universe, challenging models of galactic evolution.

Zhúlóng, a spiral galaxy discovered using the James Webb Space Telescope, is located approximately 13 billion light-years away, dating back to when the universe was less than a billion years old.
The galaxy features a well-defined grand-design spiral structure, with a massive stellar disk spanning 62,000 light-years and a quiescent core of older stars.
Zhúlóng has a stellar mass comparable to the Milky Way and a star formation rate of 66 solar masses per year, considered moderate for its epoch.
The discovery challenges existing models of galaxy formation, showcasing that mature galactic structures emerged far earlier than previously understood.
Researchers aim to conduct follow-up studies with the James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories to better understand Zhúlóng's rapid evolution and its implications for early galaxy formation.