James Webb telescope finds the farthest known galaxy yet

The James Webb Space Telescope detected a galaxy named MoM-z14 with a spectroscopic redshift of 14.44, meaning its light left about 280 million years after the Big Bang. The study reporting the result was first posted as a preprint in May 2025 and was accepted into the Open Journal of Astrophysics in January 2026, with NASA issuing a related statement.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified the most distant spectroscopically confirmed galaxy observed to date, called MoM-z14. The light from this galaxy left about 280 million years after the Big Bang, and researchers measured a redshift of 14.44. The finding was first reported as a preprint in May 2025 and was accepted into the Open Journal of Astrophysics in January 2026, and NASA released a related statement quoting the study lead. Scientists say the population of unexpectedly bright, ancient galaxies seen by JWST is prompting renewed questions about early galaxy formation. Key details: - Object name: MoM-z14, identified in JWST images and observed directly in April 2025. - Measured redshift: 14.44, corresponding to light emitted about 280 million years after the Big Bang. - Comparison: The previous spectroscopic record holder cited in the article was JADES-GS-z14-0 with a redshift of 14.18. - Physical properties: MoM-z14 is compact, roughly 240 light-years across, and has a mass comparable to the Small Magellanic Cloud. - Stellar activity and composition: The galaxy was observed during a burst of rapid star formation and shows a high nitrogen-to-carbon ratio, a pattern noted as similar to some globular clusters. - Publication and statement: The study was first posted on arXiv and later accepted by the Open Journal of Astrophysics; NASA issued a statement including comments from lead author Rohan Naidu. Summary: Researchers report that MoM-z14 extends the observational frontier to earlier times and adds to an unexpected set of bright, ancient galaxies revealed by JWST. Teams are continuing to confirm high-redshift candidates, and researchers noted the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, expected to survey larger areas after its planned launch, could identify more such objects while JWST may continue to push the observable frontier.