Galaxy Abell 1835 IR1916
Encyclopedia
Abell 1835 IR1916 was a candidate for being the most distant galaxy
ever observed. It was claimed to lie behind the galaxy cluster
Abell 1835
, in the Virgo constellation
. It was discovered by French
and Swiss
astronomers of the European Southern Observatory
, namely Roser Pelló, Johan Richard, Jean-François Le Borgne, Daniel Schaerer, and Jean-Paul Kneib. The astronomers used a near-infrared
instrument
on the Very Large Telescope
to detect the galaxy; other observatories
were then used to make an image of it possible. The Observatory, in conjunction with the Swiss National Science Foundation
, the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, and the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics
, issued a press release on 1 March 2004 announcing the discovery. It was believed to be more distant than the galaxy lensed by Abell 2218
.
Their analysis of J-band observations indicated that Abell 1835 IR1916 has a redshift
factor of z~10.0, meaning that, according to the Big Bang Theory, it appears to us as it was about 13.2 billion years ago, only 500 million years after the Big Bang
and very close to the first burst of star formation in the universe. This redshift also implies a comoving distance
from the earth of about 13.2 billion light years. Its visibility at such a great distance was credited to gravitational lens
ing by the galaxy cluster Abell 1835
between it and us.
were not able to detect it at all, the latter regarding it to be an artefact.
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
ever observed. It was claimed to lie behind the galaxy cluster
Galaxy cluster
A galaxy cluster is a compact cluster of galaxies. Basic difference between a galaxy group and a galaxy cluster is that there are many more galaxies in a cluster than in a group. Also, galaxies in a cluster are more compact and have higher velocity dispersion. One of the key features of cluster is...
Abell 1835
Abell 1835
Abell 1835 is a galaxy cluster in the Abell catalogue. It is a cluster that also gravitational lenses more-distant background galaxies to make them visible to astronomers. The cluster has a red shift of around 75,900 km/s and spans 12′....
, in the Virgo constellation
Virgo (constellation)
Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for virgin, and its symbol is . Lying between Leo to the west and Libra to the east, it is the second largest constellation in the sky...
. It was discovered by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
astronomers of the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
, namely Roser Pelló, Johan Richard, Jean-François Le Borgne, Daniel Schaerer, and Jean-Paul Kneib. The astronomers used a near-infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
instrument
Optical instrument
An optical instrument either processes light waves to enhance an image for viewing, or analyzes light waves to determine one of a number of characteristic properties.-Image enhancement:...
on the Very Large Telescope
Very Large Telescope
The Very Large Telescope is a telescope operated by the European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT consists of four individual telescopes, each with a primary mirror 8.2m across, which are generally used separately but can be used together to...
to detect the galaxy; other observatories
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
were then used to make an image of it possible. The Observatory, in conjunction with the Swiss National Science Foundation
Swiss National Science Foundation
The Swiss National Science Foundation is a science research support organization mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The SNSF was established in 1952 as a foundation under private law. Its secretariat is based in Bern....
, the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, and the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
* Astronomy and Astrophysics has a 2010 impact factor of 4.410.-See also:*The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review*Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics*Astronomy & Geophysics*Astronomical Journal*Astrophysical Journal...
, issued a press release on 1 March 2004 announcing the discovery. It was believed to be more distant than the galaxy lensed by Abell 2218
Abell 2218
Abell 2218 is a cluster of galaxies about 2 billion light-years away in the constellation Draco.Acting as a powerful lens, it magnifies and distorts all galaxies lying behind the cluster core into long arcs. The lensed galaxies are all stretched along the cluster's center and some of them are...
.
Their analysis of J-band observations indicated that Abell 1835 IR1916 has a redshift
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...
factor of z~10.0, meaning that, according to the Big Bang Theory, it appears to us as it was about 13.2 billion years ago, only 500 million years after the Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
and very close to the first burst of star formation in the universe. This redshift also implies a comoving distance
Comoving distance
In standard cosmology, comoving distance and proper distance are two closely related distance measures used by cosmologists to define distances between objects...
from the earth of about 13.2 billion light years. Its visibility at such a great distance was credited to gravitational lens
Gravitational lens
A gravitational lens refers to a distribution of matter between a distant source and an observer, that is capable of bending the light from the source, as it travels towards the observer...
ing by the galaxy cluster Abell 1835
Abell 1835
Abell 1835 is a galaxy cluster in the Abell catalogue. It is a cluster that also gravitational lenses more-distant background galaxies to make them visible to astronomers. The cluster has a red shift of around 75,900 km/s and spans 12′....
between it and us.
Failure to replicate observations
Further analysis of the data that led to the first announcement has cast doubt on the claim that it is a distant object, and follow-up observations in the H-band using the Gemini North Telescope and observations from the orbiting Spitzer Space TelescopeSpitzer Space Telescope
The Spitzer Space Telescope , formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility is an infrared space observatory launched in 2003...
were not able to detect it at all, the latter regarding it to be an artefact.