James Webb stuns scientists with new image of rare ancient galaxy in Leo constellation roaring back to life

Leo P, a small galaxy, is forming stars unexpectedly. (Image: NASA/ESA)

Astronomers have found a surprise in deep space. The dwarf galaxy Leo P, located 5.3 million light-years away in the constellation Leo, is forming new stars. Scientists believed such small, isolated galaxies stopped creating stars billions of years ago. However, recent data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) challenges this idea.

Leo P is a rare, untouched galaxy that has remained unchanged for billions of years. Unlike many galaxies that merged and evolved, Leo P has stayed isolated. This makes it similar to early galaxies formed after the Big Bang. Scientists first discovered Leo P in 2013, but new JWST observations reveal unexpected activity. The galaxy stopped forming stars after the Epoch of Reionization, a period when ultraviolet light reshaped the universe. However, unlike similar galaxies, Leo P reignited star formation after a few billion years.

The James Webb Space Telescope's photograph of the Leo P dwarf galaxy. (Image: NASA/ESA)

This discovery has left scientists puzzled. Other isolated galaxies have been studied, but they did not resume star formation. Leo P’s behaviour is unique, and researchers do not know why. To find answers, JWST will now examine four more dwarf galaxies. These studies could help uncover why some galaxies restart their star-forming process while others remain dormant.