There is a distant universe that has some intriguing clues about the past. It has an active quasar nucleus at its center. A black hole emits a lot of radiation. The black hole-powered engine has at least three young galaxies sending gas and dust into it. The baby galaxies are moving quickly. Dark matter is likely involved in the action.

Astronomers think that this is one of the densest parts of the early universe. The quasar is located at the center of the action and is close to us. The nucleus is a very active one. The color is due to something in the universe. The quasar is red-shifted, which makes it look worse.

It was a perfect target for the James Webb Space Telescope to take a look at the quasar. Evidence was found for the galaxies that are feeding it. The results are expanding our understanding of how the universe came to be.

The quasar SDSS J165202.64+172852.3. On the left is a wide-field Hubble view of multiple galaxies in the field. In the center is a JWST NIRSpec composite of four narrow-band images together, which appears as a blurry rainbow of colors. On the right are the four individual narrow-band images of the quasar in red, orange, teal, and blue. ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, D. Wylezalek, A. Vayner & the Q3D Team, N. Zakamska.
The quasar SDSS J165202.64+172852.3. On the left is a wide-field Hubble view of multiple galaxies in the field. In the center is a JWST NIRSpec composite of four narrow-band images together, which appears as a blurry rainbow of colors. On the right are the four individual narrow-band images of the quasar in red, orange, teal, and blue. ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, D. Wylezalek, A. Vayner & the Q3D Team, N. Zakamska.

A Spectroscopic Look at a Quasar

The team used data from the quasar to confirm the existence of the three young massive galaxies. The first look at the data showed signs of major interactions between the neighboring galaxies. It was clear to me that we are in a new era when the NIRSpec instrument's sensitivity was immediately apparent.

The quasar is being fed by a group of galaxies. The team believes this is one of the densest places in the early Universe. The astronomer who led the study of the quasar said that even a dense knot of dark matter isn't enough. Two huge halos of dark matter are merging together.