Webb and Hubble Telescopes Reveal 'Bulge Fossil Fragment' in Milky Way, Offering New Insights into Galaxy Formation

Researchers utilizing data from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have confirmed a new class of objects within our Milky Way galaxy, identifying Terzan 5 as the prototype of these 'bulge fossil fragments'. Previously classified as a globular star cluster, Terzan 5 has been shown to have experienced up to four distinct episodes of star formation, a characteristic that distinguishes it from typical globular clusters which usually contain only one ancient star population. This discovery provides crucial insights into how the central bulge of the Milky Way formed billions of years ago, as similar primordial clumps are thought to have merged to create it, while Terzan 5 remained intact. The findings were presented at a press conference at the 248th meeting of the American Astronomical Society and published in Astronomy & Astrophysics.