The record-breaking star, named Icarus by the scientists, could be observed by the Hubble Space Telescope thanks to gravitational lensingExternal link. Its light would under normal circumstances be too weak to see from the Earth, the University of Geneva said in a statementExternal link on Monday.
Its official name is “MACS J1149+2223 Lensed Star 1”, after the cluster of galaxies – some five billion light-years from Earth – whose gravity warped the space around the cluster, causing the light from Icarus (located behind the cluster) to be distorted and magnified some 2,000 times.
“We’ve managed to see for the first time a star roughly nine billion light-years away,” said Jean-Paul Kneib, professor of the astronomy laboratory at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).
“This star is at least 100 times further than the furthest star that we’ve been able to study until now, with the exception of exploding supernovas,” added Patrick Kelly at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Antonio Cava from the astronomy department at the University of Geneva said they had been able to learn an “enormous amount of information” about the star and its environment.
Joya Marleen and Baschi named best solo acts at Swiss Music Awards
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St. Gallen singer Joya Marleen and Baschi from Basel were named artists of the year at the Swiss Music Awards 2024 on Wednesday night.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
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The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
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The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
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In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
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A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
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The phantom at the edge of our solar system
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Swiss astrophysicist Christoph Mordasini believes we will soon know for sure whether there are eight planets in our solar system…or nine.
Swiss researcher calls existence of dark matter into question
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A Geneva researcher has argued that models of the universe’s expansion can work without the concepts of dark matter and energy.
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Scientists have determined the length of time it takes the last of seven recently discovered exoplanets to orbit around its central dwarf star.
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Astroparticles, tiny specks of matter packed with energy, can help scientists unlock the secrets of the origin and evolution of the universe.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.