The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is set to enhance our understanding of the Universe’s earliest galaxies through its new observing program, MINERVA (Medium-band Imaging with NIRCam to Explore ReVolutionary Astrophysics). Launched on July 25, 2023, MINERVA aims to address the challenges posed by cosmic dust, which can obscure critical astronomical observations and mimic the redshift of distant galaxies.
Astronomers face a significant hurdle in their quest to identify and study ancient galaxies: cosmic dust. This seemingly simple material can distort the appearance of celestial objects, leading to misinterpretations about their age. The JWST was specifically designed to penetrate this dust, allowing scientists to explore the formation of the Universe’s first stars and galaxies.
MINERVA’s Objectives and Methodology
MINERVA will revisit four extragalactic fields previously observed by the JWST: UDS, COSMOS, AEGIS, and GOODS-N. By utilizing both the NIRCam and MIRI instruments, the program seeks to produce more accurate observations than either instrument could achieve alone. This combined approach will facilitate the discovery of rare and dust-obscured galaxies that have eluded previous studies.
The program will allocate approximately 387 hours of observing time, some of which will occur concurrently across the four fields. Given the high demand for JWST observing time, such comprehensive datasets are a rare opportunity for astronomers. As noted by lead author Adam Muzzin from York University, “High-quality multi-wavelength imaging has been essential in nearly all major breakthroughs in the modern study of galaxy formation.”
MINERVA plans to create a detailed multi-wavelength photometric catalog that will serve as a foundational resource for future research. The authors emphasize that this catalog will enhance “spectroscopic follow-up for decades to come,” allowing astronomers to study the properties of galaxies with greater precision.
Exploring the Cosmic Dawn
The timeframe MINERVA aims to investigate is known as the Cosmic Dawn, a period when the first stars, galaxies, and black holes formed. This era marks a crucial transition in the Universe’s evolution, shifting from a cold, dark expanse dominated by neutral hydrogen to the star-filled cosmos we observe today. Understanding this period can provide insights into the fundamental physics of the Universe, including dark energy and dark matter.
The program also seeks to clarify some of the JWST’s more puzzling findings, such as the enigmatic Little Red Dots (LRDs). Detected approximately 600 million years after the Big Bang, these small, red-tinted cosmic objects have sparked debate among scientists about their true nature. The leading hypothesis suggests they may represent a type of primordial galaxy containing supermassive black holes.
“MINERVA certainly will enable us to identify little red dots in a much more robust way,” said Danilo Marchesini, a professor of physics and astronomy at Tufts University. He added that the project would help pin down the evolution of the number density of these objects and their associated supermassive black holes.
Ultimately, MINERVA aims to find strong candidates for galaxies that formed during the first 300 million years after the Big Bang, with a redshift above 13. This goal aligns with one of the JWST’s primary objectives: to locate the Universe’s first stars and galaxies.
When the MINERVA project concludes, it will significantly enrich the existing deep field imaging datasets, improving population studies with robust photometric redshifts, stellar masses, and sizes. This comprehensive approach will empower astronomers to explore the Universe’s history in unprecedented detail and facilitate future research for years to come.