Event Details

JWST is beginning to transform our understanding of the early universe. Over 100 papers on the arXiv have analyzed JWST data of galaxies. Some early tantalizing results have been puzzling, including claims of disks at z > 4, extremely dusty galaxies out to z > 5, impossibly massive galaxies at z ~ 12 – 15, and incredibly distant galaxies out to z ~ 16 or 20. What should we believe? And how are these results affected by calibration updates, including NIRCam zeropoints? Some recent discoveries have been aided by gravitational lensing by galaxy clusters magnifying the distant universe. I will present my group's work studying lensed galaxies in my public JWST programs. These include the Sunrise Arc, the most highly magnified galaxy known in the first billion years at z ~ 6, and host to the lensed star Earendel. A dozen or so lensing clusters are being observed in JWST Cycle 1. I predict lensing will be the key to discovering the first galaxies with JWST. And if we're really lucky we may even discover long-theorized Population III stars. See cosmic-spring.github.io for more details on my programs and visit our community wiki at highz.space.