JWST COSMOS-Web Maps 164,000 Galaxies, Tracing Cosmic Web Back 13.7 Billion Years
Updated
Updated · Futurity: Research News · May 14
JWST COSMOS-Web Maps 164,000 Galaxies, Tracing Cosmic Web Back 13.7 Billion Years
3 articles · Updated · Futurity: Research News · May 14
Astronomers used JWST’s COSMOS-Web survey to produce the most detailed cosmic web map yet, following galaxy networks from the nearby universe back to when the cosmos was about 1 billion years old.
Three-full-Moon coverage and JWST’s infrared sensitivity let the team detect far fainter galaxies and place them more precisely in time, sharpening structures that Hubble had blurred together.
The map resolves the universe’s filament-and-void architecture in unprecedented detail, with researchers saying JWST now reaches eras only a few hundred million years after the Big Bang.
A public release includes the mapping pipeline, a catalog of 164,000 galaxies with cosmic density data, and a video showing the web’s evolution across billions of years.
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JWST’s COSMOS-Web Survey Maps 164,000 Galaxies: The Most Detailed Cosmic Web Ever Revealed
Overview
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has ushered in a transformative era for astrophysics with its unparalleled capabilities. In May 2026, astronomers led by Hossein Hatamnia used JWST to create the most detailed map of the universe’s cosmic web to date. This achievement was made possible through the COSMOS-Web survey, which was specifically designed to provide extensive and deep views. By leveraging JWST’s power, researchers can now unravel the intricate structure of the cosmic web and meticulously study the evolution of galaxies within their clusters and filaments across vast stretches of cosmic time.