SPACE (KXAN) – A fascinating discovery has been made by the James Webb Space Telescope, leaving scientists and enthusiasts with a puzzling question mark in deep space.
The European Space Agency released a captivating image on July 26, which caught the attention of online observers who noticed the peculiar shape resembling a question mark (?).
So, what could have formed this enigmatic punctuation mark in the vastness of the cosmos?
The original image showcases the formation of two stars, known as Herbig-Haro 46/47, at the center of a gas and dust disc, as revealed by the ESA. Just below these stars, the remarkable “question mark” shape can be observed.
In an interview with Space.com, a representative from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) suggests that the object is likely one or more “interacting” galaxies. The object’s red color indicates it is considerably distant, according to STScI.
Space.com reported that this sighting may be the first time astronomers have observed a question mark shape in space.
The James Webb Space Telescope recently marked its one-year anniversary of operation. Being the largest space telescope ever launched, Webb is often referred to as a “time machine” due to its ability to observe the universe billions of years into the past.
As the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, which orbited Earth for 33 years, Webb, a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency, scans the universe from a distance of 1 million miles (1.6 million kilometers) away.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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