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NASA fellow Kartheik Iyer discovers Milky Way-like galaxy, "Firefly Sparkle"
The finding, conducted in collaboration with Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) team, was recently published in Nature.
Kartheik Iyer / Image- Columbia News
An Indian-origin NASA Hubble Fellow at Columbia University, Kartheik Iyer has made a groundbreaking discovery of a Milky Way-like galaxy, nicknamed "Firefly Sparkle," that dates back to the early universe.
The finding, conducted in collaboration with Lamiya Mowla of Wellesley College and the Canadian NIRISS Unbiased Cluster Survey (CANUCS) team, was recently published in Nature.
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Iyer and his team identified the galaxy, which existed about 600 million years after the Big Bang. The "Firefly Sparkle" is distinguished by its ten densely packed star clusters that resemble cosmic fireflies shimmering against a diffuse starlit backdrop.
“Telescopes like JWST act as time machines,” said Iyer. “When we look at this galaxy, we're seeing light from when the universe was just 5 percent of its current age. Thanks to gravitational lensing and JWST's resolution, we can see individual star clusters forming in extreme bursts, offering insight into how galaxies like our Milky Way began their journey.”
Gravitational lensing, a phenomenon where a massive galaxy cluster bends and magnifies light from distant galaxies, played a key role in revealing the intricate details of "Firefly Sparkle." This discovery sheds light on early galaxy formation and the extreme environments that characterized the nascent universe.
In addition to his observational work, Iyer has developed Pathfinder, an AI-powered search tool designed to navigate the rapidly expanding body of astronomy research. “Pathfinder uses machine learning to organize 380,000 astronomy papers into a searchable landscape, allowing researchers to stay updated without the risk of misinformation,” Iyer explained.
A Mumbai native, Iyer describes New York City as reminiscent of home, with its vibrant culture and dynamic environment fostering both his research and personal growth.
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