The universe has been expanding since the Big Bang, an event that occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago. Astronomers have long studied this phenomenon, with early evidence coming from Edwin Hubble’s 1929 observations showing that galaxies are moving away from each other. The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has furthered our understanding, providing groundbreaking insights into the scale, rate, and early stages of this expansion.
The Role of JWST in Proving Universal Expansion
The JWST has enabled astronomers to observe some of the oldest galaxies in the universe, capturing infrared images of objects formed just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. These observations have strengthened the foundation of cosmic expansion theories, such as the Hubble-Lemaître Law, which relates galaxy distance to recession velocity. JWST’s high-resolution capabilities provide astronomers with a more detailed look at these early galaxies, showing their position and speed in relation to one another with unprecedented accuracy.
The Implications of an Expanding Universe
The JWST’s discoveries confirm that the universe is not only expanding but accelerating in its expansion. This acceleration suggests the presence of dark energy—a mysterious force driving galaxies apart. By observing the early universe, JWST data supports models that estimate the universe’s size and the speed at which it continues to grow.
