Scientists identify 'Astronomy’s Platypus' with Webb

After combing through the archive of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope of sweeping extragalactic cosmic fields, a small team of astronomers have identified a sample of galaxies that have a previously unseen combination of features.

Four of the nine galaxies in the newly identified “platypus” sample were discovered in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science Survey (CEERS) are shown in this image. One key feature that makes them distinct is their point-like appearance, even to a telescope that can capture as much detail as Webb. 

The research was presented in a press conference at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

[Image description: James Webb Space Telescope image showing a broad area of space with many small galaxies, four of which are highlighted in pull-out boxes. The four highlighted galaxies are very small, appearing as points of light. Black areas of the overall image indicate where the telescope did not collect data – a vertical section in the center and a square in the lower left corner.]