Exploring the Farthest Stars: from MACS J11492223 to SDSS J12291122

The night sky has always captivated humans with its endless mysteries. Among these, one question remains particularly intriguing: how far are the farthest stars located?

Discovering the Distant MACS J11492223 Star

In 2016, astronomers made a groundbreaking discovery. The star named “MACS J11492223 Lensed Star 1,” or simply Icarus, is the farthest star ever identified. This star, which holds the title of 'farthest star ever discovered,' is astonishingly located approximately 9 billion light-years away from Earth.

The Hubble’s Moment of Triumph: Icarus

This monumental discovery was made possible by the Hubble Space Telescope. In a project that combined the power of natural gravitational lensing with Hubble’s exceptional capabilities, this distant star was finally revealed. The star’s official name, while somewhat cumbersome, reflects the technical method used to find it: it was discovered through a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing, where the light of the distant star is bent and magnified by a massive object in its path—a galaxy cluster.

Interpreting the Question: A Multifaceted Inquiry

Your question could be interpreted in more than one way. Primarily, it can be understood as asking for the farthest star ever discovered, as mentioned earlier. Another perspective is to inquire about the most distant galaxy ever identified, which inevitably consists of numerous stars. In this context, the GN-z11 galaxy holds the distinction at a staggering 32 billion light-years from Earth. Although our current telescopes are not capable of resolving individual stars within this galaxy, they still detect the presence of bright blue young stars.

Observable vs. All Stars

When considering the most distant visible stars, the record is held by SDSS J122911.22 104303.0 (officially SDSS J122911.22 104303.0), which is located approximately 55 million light-years away in a blue galaxy named IC 3418. It is a globular star cluster, which is why its light is more concentrated, making it easier for our telescopes to detect.

The Limitations of Current Technology

Presently, we face significant limitations in our technology. The vast expanse of the universe beyond what we can observe is still largely unknown. The diameter of the observable universe is estimated to be 93 billion light-years, but the total size of the universe could be much larger. In fact, we do not know whether there are stars or galaxies beyond, further than what we can currently observe.

Future Projections and Theories

While the current research is focused on the existing limitations, ambitious projects such as the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope aim to push the boundaries even further. This telescope, which is expected to launch in 2023, promises to unveil the early universe with its unprecedented sensitivity and resolution. Theoretically, we might be able to see stars from the early Epoch of Reionization, which is estimated to have happened around 13.7 billion years ago.

As our technology and understanding evolve, the potential to discover even more distant stars and galaxies expands. The journey of exploration is far from over, and the answers to these questions are continually being refined and expanded upon.