Early Universe Illustration (IMAGE)
Caption
This artist's concept shows how the universe might have looked when it was less than a billion years old, about 7 percent of its current age. Star formation voraciously consumed primordial hydrogen, churning out myriad stars at an unprecedented rate. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will peer back to the universe’s early stages to understand how it transitioned from being opaque to the brilliant starscape we see today.
Alt text: This illustration depicts a mesmerizing and chaotic cosmic scene, filled with misshapen clumps and twists of white and purplish material on a black background. Most of the clumps are small, but a particularly large conglomeration extends from the lower-right of the frame up to the middle and nearly all the way across to the left side, sort of like billowing clouds. It's full of bulbous shapes outlined with glowing lavender tendrils. Bright groups of stars are concentrated in the center of each lobe, and also scattered more sparsely throughout the surrounding area.
Credit
NASA, ESA, and A. Schaller (for STScI)
Usage Restrictions
No restrictions.
License
Public Domain