# List of the most distant astronomical objects

This article documents the most distant astronomical objects discovered and verified so far, and the time periods in which they were so classified.
For comparisons with the light travel distance of the astronomical objects listed below, the age of the universe since the Big Bang is currently estimated as 13.787±0.020 Gyr.
Distances to remote objects, other than those in nearby galaxies, are nearly always inferred by measuring the cosmological redshift of their light. By their nature, very distant objects tend to be very faint, and these distance determinations are difficult and subject to errors. An important distinction is whether the distance is determined via spectroscopy or using a photometric redshift technique. The former is generally both more precise and also more reliable, in the sense that photometric redshifts are more prone to being wrong due to confusion with lower redshift sources that may have unusual spectra. For that reason, a spectroscopic redshift is conventionally regarded as being necessary for an object's distance to be considered definitely known, whereas photometrically determined redshifts identify "candidate" very distant sources. Here, this distinction is indicated by a "p" subscript for photometric redshifts.
The proper distance provides a measurement of how far a galaxy is at a fixed moment in time. At the present time the proper distance equals the comoving distance since the cosmological scale factor has value one: $a(t_{0})=1$. The proper distance represents the distance obtained as if one were able to freeze the flow of time (set $dt=0$ in the FLRW metric) and walk all the way to a galaxy while using a meter stick. For practical reasons, the proper distance is calculated as the distance traveled by light (set $ds=0$ in the FLRW metric) from the time of emission by a galaxy to the time an observer (on Earth) receives the light signal. It differs from the “light travel distance” since the proper distance takes into account the expansion of the universe, i.e. the space expands as the light travels through it, resulting in numerical values which locate the most distant galaxies beyond the Hubble sphere and therefore with recession velocities greater than the speed of light c.

## Most distant spectroscopically-confirmed objects

Most distant astronomical objects with spectroscopic redshift determinations :
| Image | Name | Redshift (z) | Light travel distance$^§$ (Gly) | Proper distance (Gly) | Type | Notes |
| | JADES-GS-z14-0 | z = 14.32+0.08 −0.20 | | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | JADES-GS-z14-1 | z = 13.90+0.17 −0.17 | | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | JADES-GS-z13-0 | z = 13.20+0.04 −0.07 | 13.576 / 13.596 / 13.474 / 13.473 | 33.6 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | UNCOVER-z13 | z = 13.079+0.014 −0.001 | 13.51 | 32.56$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | JADES-GS-z12-0 | z = 12.63+0.24 −0.08 | 13.556 / 13.576 / 13.454 / 13.453 | 32.34$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRCam and JWST/NIRSpec, and CIII] line emission with JWST/NIRSpec. Most distant spectroscopic redshift from emission lines; most distant detection of non-primordial elements (C, O, Ne). |
| | UNCOVER-z12 | z = 12.393+0.004 −0.001 | 13.48 | 32.21$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | GLASS-z12 | z = 12.117+0.01 −0.01 | 13.536 / 13.556 / 13.434 / 13.433 | 33.2 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST/NIRCam, confirmed by ALMA detection of [O III] emission |
| | UDFj-39546284 | z = 11.58+0.05 −0.05 | 13.512 / 13.532 / 13.410 / 13.409 | 31.77$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec. |
| | CEERS J141946.36+525632.8 (Maisie's Galaxy) | z = 11.44+0.09 −0.08 | 13.4 | 31.69$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| | CEERS2 588 | z = 11.04 | 13.45 | 31.45$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| | GN-z11 | z = 10.6034 ± 0.0013 | 13.481 / 13.501 / 13.380 / 13.379 | 31.18$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy; detection of the Lyman break with HST at 5.5σ and carbon emission lines with Keck/MOSFIRE at 5.3σ. Conclusive redshift by JWST in February 2023 |
| | JADES-GS-z10-0 UDFj-39546284 | z = 10.38+0.07 −0.06 | 13.449 / 13.469 / 13.348 / 13.347 | 31.04$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec |
| | JD1 | z = 9.793±0.002 | 13.409 / 13.429 / 13.308 / 13.307 | 30.12$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec |
| | Gz9p3 | z=9.3127 ± 0.0002 | 13.277 | 30.27$^†$ | Galaxy | A galaxy merger with a redshift estimated from [OII], Ne and H emission lines detected with JWST. |
| | MACS1149-JD1 | z = 9.1096±0.0006 | 13.361 / 13.381 / 13.261 / 13.260 | 30.37 | Galaxy | Detection of hydrogen emission line with the VLT, and oxygen line with ALMA |
| | EGSY8p7 | z = 8.683+0.001 −0.004 | 13.325 / 13.345 / 13.225 / 13.224 | 30.05 | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter; detection of Lyman-alpha with Keck/MOSFIRE at 7.5σ confidence |
| | SMACS-4590 | z = 8.496 | 13.308 / 13.328 / 13.208 / 13.207 | 29.71$^†$ | Galaxy | Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec |
| | A2744 YD4 | z = 8.38 | 13.297 / 13.317 / 13.197 / 13.196 | 29.50$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha and [O III] emission detected with ALMA at 4.0σ confidence |
| | MACS0416 Y1 | z = 8.3118±0.0003 | 13.290 / 13.310 / 13.190 / 13.189 | 29.44$^†$ | Galaxy | [O III] emission detected with ALMA at 6.3σ confidence |
| | GRB 090423 | z = 8.23+0.06 −0.07 | 13.282 / 13.302 / 13.182 / 13.181 | 30 | Gamma-ray burst | Lyman-alpha break detected |
| | RXJ2129-11002 | z = 8.16±0.01 | 13.175 | 29.31$^†$ | Galaxy | [O III] doublet, Hβ, and [O II] doublet as well as Lyman-alpha break detected with JWST/NIRSpec prism |
| | RXJ2129-11022 | z = 8.15±0.01 | 13.174 | 29.30$^†$ | Galaxy | [O III] doublet and Hβ as well as Lyman-alpha break detected with JWST/NIRSpec prism |
| | EGS-zs8-1 | z = 7.7302±0.0006 | 13.228 / 13.248 / 13.129 / 13.128 | 29.5 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy |
| | SMACS-6355 | z = 7.665 | 13.221 / 13.241 / 13.121 / 13.120 | 28.83 | Galaxy | Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec |
| | z7_GSD_3811 | z = 7.6637±0.0011 | 13.221 / 13.240 / 13.121 / 13.120 | 28.83$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | SMACS-10612 | z = 7.658 | 13.221 / 13.241 / 13.120 / 13.119 | 28.83$^†$ | Galaxy | Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec> |
| | QSO J0313–1806 | z = 7.6423±0.0013 | 13.218 / 13.238 / 13.119 / 13.118 | 30 | Quasar | Lyman-alpha break detected |
| | ULAS J1342+0928 | z = 7.5413±0.0007 | 13.206 / 13.226 / 13.107 / 13.106 | 29.36 | Quasar | Redshift estimated from [C II] emission |
| | z8_GND_5296 | z = 7.51 | 13.202 / 13.222 / 13.103 / 13.102 | 30.01 | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | A1689-zD1 | z = 7.5±0.2 | 13.201 / 13.221 / 13.102 / 13.101 | 30 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy |
| | GS2_1406 | z = 7.452±0.003 | 13.195 / 13.215 / 13.096 / 13.095 | 28.62$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | GN-108036 | z = 7.213 | 13.164 / 13.184 / 13.065 / 13.064 | 29 | Galaxy | Lyman alpha emitter |
| | SXDF-NB1006-2 | z = 7.2120±0.0003 | 13.164 / 13.184 / 13.065 / 13.064 | 29 | Galaxy | [O III] emission detected |
| | BDF-3299 | z = 7.109±0.002 | 13.149 / 13.169 / 13.051 / 13.050 | 28.25 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy |
| | ULAS J1120+0641 | z = 7.085±0.003 | 13.146 / 13.166 / 13.048 / 13.047 | 29.85 | Quasar | Redshift estimated from Si III]+C III] and Mg II emission lines |
| | A1703 zD6 | z = 7.045±0.004 | 13.140 / 13.160 / 13.042 / 13.041 | 29 | Galaxy | Gravitationally-lensed Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | BDF-521 | z = 7.008±0.002 | 13.135 / 13.155 / 13.037 / 13.036 | 28.43$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy |
| | G2_1408 | z = 6.972±0.002 | 13.130 / 13.150 / 13.032 / 13.030 | 28.10$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | IOK-1 | z = 6.965 | 13.129 / 13.149 / 13.030 / 13.029 | 28.09$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | LAE J095950.99+021219.1 | z = 6.944 | 13.126 / 13.146 / 13.028 / 13.027 | 28.07$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | SDF-46975 | z = 6.844 | 13.111 / 13.131 / 13.013 / 13.012 | 27.95$^†$ | Galaxy | Lyman-alpha emitter |
| | PSO J172.3556+18.7734 | z = 6.823+0.003 −0.001 | 13.107 / 13.127 / 13.010 / 13.009 | 27.93$^†$ | Quasar (astrophysical jet) | Redshift estimated from Mg II emission |
| § The tabulated distance is the light travel distance, which has no direct physical significance. See discussion at distance measures and Observable Universe † Numeric value obtained using Wright (2006) with $H_{0}$ = 70, $\Omega _{CM}$ = 0.30, $\Omega _{DE}$ = 0.70. |||||||

## Candidate most distant objects

Since the beginning of the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) science operations in June 2022, numerous distant galaxies far beyond what could be seen by the Hubble Space Telescope (z = 11) have been discovered thanks to the JWST's capability of seeing far into the infrared. Previously in 2012, there were about 50 possible objects z = 8 or farther, and another 100 candidates at z = 7, based on photometric redshift estimates released by the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) project from observations made between mid-2002 and December 2012. Some objects included here have been observed spectroscopically, but had only one emission line tentatively detected, and are therefore still considered candidates by researchers.
Notable candidates for most distant astronomical objects :
| Name | Redshift (z) | Light travel distance$^§$ (Gly) | Type | Notes |
| F200DB-045 | z$_p$ = 20.4+0.3 −0.3 or 0.70+0.19 −0.55 or 0.40+0.15 −0.26 | 13.725 / 13.745 / 13.623 / 13.621 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST NOTE: The redshift value of the galaxy presented by the procedure in one study may differ from the values presented in other studies using different procedures. |
| F200DB-175 | z$_p$ = 16.2+0.3 −0.0 | 13.657 / 13.677 / 13.555 / 13.554 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| S5-z17-1 | z = 16.0089±0.0004 or 4.6108±0.0001 | 13.653 / 13.673 / 13.551 / 13.550 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST; tentative (5.1σ) ALMA detection of a single emission line possibly attributed to either [C II] (z = 4.6108±0.0001) or [O III] (z = 16.0089±0.0004). |
| F150DB-041 | z$_p$ = 16.0+0.2 −0.2 or 3.70+0.02 −0.59 | 13.653 / 13.673 / 13.551 / 13.549 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z16a | z$_p$ = 15.92+0.17 −0.15 or 2.96+0.73 −0.21 | 13.651 / 13.671 / 13.549 / 13.548 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F200DB-015 | z$_p$ = 15.8+3.4 −0.1 | 13.648 / 13.668 / 13.546 / 13.545 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F200DB-181 | z$_p$ = 15.8+0.5 −0.3 | 13.648 / 13.668 / 13.546 / 13.545 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F200DB-159 | z$_p$ = 15.8+4.0 −15.2 | 13.648 / 13.668 / 13.546 / 13.545 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F200DB-086 | z$_p$ = 15.4+0.6 −14.6 or 3.53+10.28 −1.84 | 13.639 / 13.659 / 13.537 / 13.536 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z16b | z$_p$ = 15.32+0.16 −0.13 or 15.39+0.18 −0.26 | 13.637 / 13.657 / 13.535 / 13.534 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-048 | z$_p$ = 15.0+0.2 −0.8 | 13.629 / 13.649 / 13.527 / 13.526 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-007 | z$_p$ = 14.6+0.4 −0.4 | 13.619 / 13.639 / 13.517 / 13.516 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-004 | z$_p$ = 14.0+0.4 −2.0 | 13.602 / 13.622 / 13.500 / 13.499 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-079 | z$_p$ = 13.8+0.5 −1.9 | 13.596 / 13.616 / 13.494 / 13.493 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-007 | z$_p$ = 13.4+0.6 −2.0 | 13.583 / 13.603 / 13.481 / 13.480 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-053 | z$_p$ = 13.4+0.3 −2.3 | 13.583 / 13.603 / 13.481 / 13.480 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-050 | z$_p$ = 13.4+0.6 −10.0 | 13.583 / 13.603 / 13.481 / 13.480 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-058 | z$_p$ = 13.4+0.6 −12.5 3.42+0.30 −0.20 | 13.583 / 13.603 / 13.481 / 13.480 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-038 | z$_p$ = 13.4+0.4 −13.2 | 13.583 / 13.603 / 13.481 / 13.480 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| HD1 | z = 13.27 | 13.579 / 13.599 / 13.477 / 13.476 | Galaxy | Not yet spectroscopically confirmed. Guinness World Record of the most distant confirmed galaxy Lyman-break galaxy (5σ confidence) followed with a tentative ALMA detection of a single oxygen emission line only (4σ confidence) |
| F150DA-010 | z$_p$ = 12.8+0.6 −1.5 | 13.562 / 13.582 / 13.460 / 13.459 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| S5-z12-1 | z$_p$ = 12.57+1.23 −0.46 | 13.553 / 13.573 / 13.452 / 13.451 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-27535 4 | z$_p$ = 12.56+1.75 −0.27 | 13.553 / 13.573 / 13.452 / 13.451 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-1566 | z$_p$ = 12.29+1.50 −0.44 | 13.542 / 13.562 / 13.441 / 13.440 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z12b (F150DA-077) | z$_p$ = 12.26+0.17 −0.16 or 13.4+0.4 −1.7 | 13.541 / 13.561 / 13.440 / 13.439 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z12a | z$_p$ = 12.20+0.21 −0.12 | 13.539 / 13.559 / 13.437 / 13.436 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CR2-z12-4 | z$_p$ = 12.08+2.11 −1.25 | 13.534 / 13.554 / 13.432 / 13.431 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-10566 | z$_p$ = 12.03+0.57 −0.26 | 13.532 / 13.552 / 13.430 / 13.429 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| XDFH-2395446286 | z$_p$ = 12.0+0.1 −0.2 | 13.530 / 13.550 / 13.429 / 13.428 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble |
| CR2-z12-2 | z$_p$ = 11.96+1.44 −0.87 | 13.529 / 13.549 / 13.427 / 13.426 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| 9-BUSCAR | z$_p$ = 11.91+0.10 −0.22 | 13.527 / 13.547 / 13.425 / 13.424 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-8347 | z$_p$ = 11.90+0.27 −0.39 | 13.526 / 13.546 / 13.425 / 13.424 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-26409 4 | z$_p$ = 11.90+1.60 −0.70 | 13.526 / 13.546 / 13.425 / 13.424 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-069 | z$_p$ = 11.8+1.7 −0.2 | 13.522 / 13.542 / 13.420 / 13.419 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| XDFH-2334046578 | z$_p$ = 11.8+0.4 −0.5 | 13.522 / 13.542 / 13.420 / 13.419 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble |
| CR2-z12-3 | z$_p$ = 11.66+0.69 −0.71 | 13.515 / 13.535 / 13.414 / 13.413 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CR2-z12-1 | z$_p$ = 11.63+0.51 −0.53 | 13.514 / 13.534 / 13.413 / 13.412 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-088 | z$_p$ = 11.6+0.3 −0.2 | 13.513 / 13.533 / 13.411 / 13.410 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-084 | z$_p$ = 11.6+0.4 −0.4 | 13.513 / 13.533 / 13.411 / 13.410 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-044 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.4 −11.3 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| XDFH-2404647339 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.4 −0.5 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble |
| F150DB-075 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.4 −0.1 0.04+0.01 −0.01 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-062 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.3 −0.3 1.78+0.20 −0.08 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-127682 | z$_p$ = 11.40+0.59 −0.51 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-5268 2 | z$_p$ = 11.40+0.30 −1.11 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-060 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.6 −8.2 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-031 | z$_p$ = 11.4+1.0 −8.2 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-052 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.8 −10.6 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-054 | z$_p$ = 11.4+0.5 −10.8 | 13.503 / 13.523 / 13.402 / 13.401 | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z11d | z$_p$ = 11.28±0.32 or 2.35+0.30 −0.67 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-77241 | z$_p$ = 11.27+0.39 −0.70 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-6647 | z$_p$ = 11.27+0.58 −0.28 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-622 4 | z$_p$ = 11.27+0.48 −0.60 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z11c | z$_p$ = 11.22±0.32 or 3.84+0.05 −0.04 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z11b | z$_p$ = 11.22±0.56 or 6.94+0.07 −0.07 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-005 | z$_p$ = 11.2+0.4 −0.3 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-020 | z$_p$ = 11.2+0.2 −7.9 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CEERS-61486 | z$_p$ = 11.15+0.37 −0.35 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z11e (F150DA-081) | z$_p$ = 11.10+0.21 −0.34 or 13.4+0.6 −2.2 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z11a | z$_p$ = 11.05+0.09 −0.08 or 1.73+0.18 −0.04 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| CR3-z12-1 | z$_p$ = 11.05+2.24 −0.47 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-026 | z$_p$ = 11.0+0.5 −0.3 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DA-036 | z$_p$ = 11.0+0.4 −7.8 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SMACS-z10e | z$_p$ = 10.89+0.16 −0.14 or 1.38+1.37 −0.24 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| F150DB-040 | z$_p$ = 10.8+0.3 −0.2 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| EGS-14506 | z$_p$ = 10.71+0.34 −0.62 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| MACS0647-JD | z$_p$ = 10.6±0.3 | | Galaxy | Gravitationally lensed into three images by a galaxy cluster; detected by JWST and Hubble |
| GLASS-z10 (GLASS-1698) | z = 10.38 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST; tentative (4.4σ) ALMA detection of [O III] emission line only |
| EGS-7860 | z$_p$ = 10.11+0.60 −0.82 | | Galaxy | Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST |
| SPT0615-JD | z$_p$ = 9.9+0.8 −0.6 | 13.419 | Galaxy | |
| A2744-JD | z$_p$≅9.8 | 13.412 | Galaxy | Galaxy is being magnified and lensed into three multiple images, geometrically supporting its redshift. |
| MACS1149-JD1 | z$_p$≅9.6 | 13.398 | Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy | |
| GRB 090429B | z$_p$≅9.4 | 13.383 | Gamma-ray burst | The photometric redshift in this instance has quite large uncertainty, with the lower limit for the redshift being z>7. |
| UDFy-33436598 | z$_p$≅8.6 | 13.317 | Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy | |
| UDFy-38135539 | z$_p$≅8.6 | 13.317 | Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy | A spectroscopic redshift of z = 8.55 was claimed for this source in 2010, but has subsequently been shown to be mistaken. |
| BoRG-58 | z$_p$≅8 | 13.258 | Galaxy cluster or protocluster | Protocluster candidate |
| § The tabulated distance is the light travel distance, which has no direct physical significance. See discussion at distance measures and Observable Universe |||||

## List of most distant objects by type

Most distant object by type :
| Type | Object | Redshift (distance) | Notes |
| Any astronomical object, no matter what type | JADES-GS-z14-0 | z = 14.32 | Most distant galaxy with a spectroscopically confirmed redshift as of 2024. |
| Galaxy or protogalaxy | JADES-GS-z14-0 | z = 14.32 | Most distant galaxy with a spectroscopically confirmed redshift as of 2024. |
| Galaxy cluster | CL J1001+0220 | z ≅ 2.506 | As of 2016See also: List of galaxy clusters |
| Galaxy supercluster | Hyperion proto-supercluster | z = 2.45 | This supercluster at the time of its discovery in 2018 was the earliest and largest proto-supercluster found to date. See also: List of superclusters |
| Galaxy protocluster | A2744z7p9OD | z = 7.88 | This protocluster at the time of its discovery in 2023 was the most distant protocluster found and spectroscopically confirmed to date. See also: List of galaxy groups and clusters |
| Quasar | UHZ1 | z ~ 10.0 | See also: List of quasars |
| Black hole | GN-z11 | z = 10.6034±0.0013 | |
| Star or protostar or post-stellar corpse (detected by an event) | Progenitor of GRB 090423 | z = 8.2 | Note, GRB 090429B has a photometric redshift z$_p$≅9.4, and so is most likely more distant than GRB 090423, but is lacking spectroscopic confirmation.See also: List of gamma-ray bursts Estimated an approximate distance of 13 billion lightyears from Earth |
| Star or protostar or post-stellar corpse (detected as a star) | WHL0137-LS (Earendel) | z = 6.2 ± 0.1 (12.9 Gly) | Most distant individual star detected (March, 2022). Previous records include SDSS J1229+1122 and MACS J1149 Lensed Star 1. |
| Star cluster | The Sparkler | z = 1.378 (13.9 Gly) | Galaxy with globular clusters gravitationally lensed in SMACS J0723.3-7327 |
| System of star clusters | The Sparkler | z = 1.378 (13.9 Gly) | Galaxy with globular clusters gravitationally lensed in SMACS J0723.3-7327 |
| X-ray jet | PJ352–15 quasar jet | z = 5.831 (12.7 Gly) | The previous recordholder was at 12.4 Gly. |
| Microquasar | XMMU J004243.6+412519 | (2.5 Mly) | First extragalactic microquasar discovered |
| Nebula-like object | Himiko | z = 6.595 | Possibly one of the largest objects in the early universe. |
| Magnetic field | 9io9 | z = 2.554 (11.1 Gly) | Observations from ALMA has shown that the lensed galaxy 9io9 contains a magnetic field. |
| Planet | SWEEPS-11 / SWEEPS-04 | (27,710 ly) | An analysis of the lightcurve of the microlensing event PA-99-N2 suggests the presence of a planet orbiting a star in the Andromeda Galaxy. A controversial microlensing event of lobe A of the double gravitationally lensed Q0957+561 suggests that there is a planet in the lensing galaxy lying at redshift 0.355 (3.7 Gly). |
Most distant event by type :
| Type | Event | Redshift | Notes |
| Gamma-ray burst | GRB 090423 | z = 8.2 | Note, GRB 090429B has a photometric redshift z$_p$≅9.4, and so is most likely more distant than GRB 090423, but is lacking spectroscopic confirmation.See also: List of gamma-ray bursts |
| Core collapse supernova | SN 1000+0216 | z = 3.8993 | See also: List of most distant supernovae |
| Type Ia supernova | SN UDS10Wil | z = 1.914 | See also: List of supernovae |
| Type Ia supernova | SN SCP-0401 (Mingus) | z = 1.71 | First observed in 2004, it was not until 2013 that it could be identified as a Type-Ia SN. See also: List of supernovae |
| Cosmic Decoupling | Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation creation | z~1000 to 1089 | |

## Timeline of most distant astronomical object recordholders

Objects in this list were found to be the most distant object at the time of determination of their distance. This is frequently not the same as the date of their discovery.
Distances to astronomical objects may be determined through parallax measurements, use of standard references such as cepheid variables or Type Ia supernovas, or redshift measurement. Spectroscopic redshift measurement is preferred, while photometric redshift measurement is also used to identify candidate high redshift sources. The symbol z represents redshift.
Most distant object titleholders (not including candidates based on photometric redshifts) :
| Object | Type | Date | Distance (z = Redshift) | Notes |
| JADES-GS-z14-0 | Galaxy | 2024–present | z = 14.32 | |
| JADES-GS-z13-0 | Galaxy | 2022–2024 | z = 13.20 | |
| GN-z11 | Galaxy | 2016–2022 | z = 10.6 | |
| EGSY8p7 | Galaxy | 2015−2016 | z = 8.68 | |
| Progenitor of GRB 090423 / Remnant of GRB 090423 | Gamma-ray burst progenitor / Gamma-ray burst remnant | 2009–2015 | z = 8.2 | |
| IOK-1 | Galaxy | 2006 − 2009 | z = 6.96 | |
| SDF J132522.3+273520 | Galaxy | 2005 − 2006 | z = 6.597 | |
| SDF J132418.3+271455 | Galaxy | 2003 − 2005 | z = 6.578 | |
| HCM-6A | Galaxy | 2002 − 2003 | z = 6.56 | The galaxy is lensed by galaxy cluster Abell 370. This was the first non-quasar galaxy found to exceed redshift 6. It exceeded the redshift of quasar SDSSp J103027.10+052455.0 of z = 6.28 |
| SDSS J1030+0524 (SDSSp J103027.10+052455.0) | Quasar | 2001 − 2002 | z = 6.28 | |
| SDSS 1044–0125 (SDSSp J104433.04–012502.2) | Quasar | 2000 − 2001 | z = 5.82 | |
| SSA22-HCM1 | Galaxy | 1999–2000 | z>=5.74 | |
| HDF 4-473.0 | Galaxy | 1998–1999 | z = 5.60 | |
| RD1 (0140+326 RD1) | Galaxy | 1998 | z = 5.34 | |
| CL 1358+62 G1 & CL 1358+62 G2 | Galaxies | 1997 − 1998 | z = 4.92 | These were the most remote objects discovered at the time. The pair of galaxies were found lensed by galaxy cluster CL1358+62 (z = 0.33). This was the first time since 1964 that something other than a quasar held the record for being the most distant object in the universe. |
| PC 1247–3406 | Quasar | 1991 − 1997 | z = 4.897 | |
| PC 1158+4635 | Quasar | 1989 − 1991 | z = 4.73 | |
| Q0051–279 | Quasar | 1987 − 1989 | z = 4.43 | |
| Q0000–26 (QSO B0000–26) | Quasar | 1987 | z = 4.11 | |
| PC 0910+5625 (QSO B0910+5625) | Quasar | 1987 | z = 4.04 | This was the second quasar discovered with a redshift over 4. |
| Q0046–293 (QSO J0048–2903) | Quasar | 1987 | z = 4.01 | |
| Q1208+1011 (QSO B1208+1011) | Quasar | 1986 − 1987 | z = 3.80 | This is a gravitationally-lensed double-image quasar, and at the time of discovery to 1991, had the least angular separation between images, 0.45″. |
| PKS 2000-330 (QSO J2003–3251, Q2000–330) | Quasar | 1982 − 1986 | z = 3.78 | |
| OQ172 (QSO B1442+101) | Quasar | 1974 − 1982 | z = 3.53 | |
| OH471 (QSO B0642+449) | Quasar | 1973 − 1974 | z = 3.408 | Nickname was "the blaze marking the edge of the universe". |
| 4C 05.34 | Quasar | 1970 − 1973 | z = 2.877 | Its redshift was so much greater than the previous record that it was believed to be erroneous, or spurious. |
| 5C 02.56 (7C 105517.75+495540.95) | Quasar | 1968 − 1970 | z = 2.399 | |
| 4C 25.05 (4C 25.5) | Quasar | 1968 | z = 2.358 | |
| PKS 0237–23 (QSO B0237–2321) | Quasar | 1967 − 1968 | z = 2.225 | |
| 4C 12.39 (Q1116+12, PKS 1116+12) | Quasar | 1966 − 1967 | z = 2.1291 | |
| 4C 01.02 (Q0106+01, PKS 0106+1) | Quasar | 1965 − 1966 | z = 2.0990 | |
| 3C 9 | Quasar | 1965 | z = 2.018 | |
| 3C 147 | Quasar | 1964 − 1965 | z = 0.545 | |
| 3C 295 | Radio galaxy | 1960 − 1964 | z = 0.461 | |
| LEDA 25177 (MCG+01-23-008) | Brightest cluster galaxy | 1951 − 1960 | z = 0.2 (V = 61000 km/s) | This galaxy lies in the Hydra Supercluster. It is located at B1950.0 08$^h$ 55$^m$ 4$^s$ +03° 21′ and is the BCG of the fainter Hydra Cluster Cl 0855+0321 (ACO 732). |
| LEDA 51975 (MCG+05-34-069) | Brightest cluster galaxy | 1936 – | z = 0.13 (V = 39000 km/s) | The brightest cluster galaxy of the Bootes Cluster (ACO 1930), an elliptical galaxy at B1950.0 14$^h$ 30$^m$ 6$^s$ +31° 46′ apparent magnitude 17.8, was found by Milton L. Humason in 1936 to have a 40,000 km/s recessional redshift velocity. |
| LEDA 20221 (MCG+06-16-021) | Brightest cluster galaxy | 1932 – | z = 0.075 (V = 23000 km/s) | This is the BCG of the Gemini Cluster (ACO 568) and was located at B1950.0 07$^h$ 05$^m$ 0$^s$ +35° 04′ |
| BCG of WMH Christie's Leo Cluster | Brightest cluster galaxy | 1931 − 1932 | z = (V = 19700 km/s) | |
| BCG of Baede's Ursa Major Cluster | Brightest cluster galaxy | 1930 − 1931 | z = (V = 11700 km/s) | |
| NGC 4860 | Galaxy | 1929 − 1930 | z = 0.026 (V = 7800 km/s) | |
| NGC 7619 | Galaxy | 1929 | z = 0.012 (V = 3779 km/s) | Using redshift measurements, NGC 7619 was the highest at the time of measurement. At the time of announcement, it was not yet accepted as a general guide to distance, however, later in the year, Edwin Hubble described redshift in relation to distance, which became accepted widely as an inferred distance. |
| NGC 584 (Dreyer nebula 584) | Galaxy | 1921 − 1929 | z = 0.006 (V = 1800 km/s) | At the time, nebula had yet to be accepted as independent galaxies. However, in 1923, galaxies were generally recognized as external to the Milky Way. |
| M104 (NGC 4594) | Galaxy | 1913 − 1921 | z = 0.004 (V = 1180 km/s) | This was the second galaxy whose redshift was determined; the first being Andromeda – which is approaching us and thus cannot have its redshift used to infer distance. Both were measured by Vesto Melvin Slipher. At this time, nebula had yet to be accepted as independent galaxies. NGC 4594 was measured originally as 1000 km/s, then refined to 1100, and then to 1180 in 1916. |
| Arcturus (Alpha Bootis) | Star | 1891 − 1910 | 160 ly (18 mas) (this is very inaccurate, true=37 ly) | This number is wrong; originally announced in 1891, the figure was corrected in 1910 to 40 ly (60 mas). From 1891 to 1910, it had been thought this was the star with the smallest known parallax, hence the most distant star whose distance was known. Prior to 1891, Arcturus had previously been recorded of having a parallax of 127 mas. |
| Capella (Alpha Aurigae) | Star | 1849–1891 | 72 ly (46 mas) | |
| Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris) | Star | 1847 – 1849 | 50 ly (80 mas) (this is very inaccurate, true=~375 ly) | |
| Vega (Alpha Lyrae) | Star (part of a double star pair) | 1839 – 1847 | 7.77 pc (125 mas) | |
| 61 Cygni | Binary star | 1838 − 1839 | 3.48 pc (313.6 mas) | This was the first star other than the Sun to have its distance measured. |
| Uranus | Planet of the Solar System | 1781 − 1838 | 18 AU | This was the last planet discovered before the first successful measurement of stellar parallax. It had been determined that the stars were much farther away than the planets. |
| Saturn | Planet of the Solar System | 1619 − 1781 | 10 AU | From Kepler's Third Law, it was finally determined that Saturn is indeed the outermost of the classical planets, and its distance derived. It had only previously been conjectured to be the outermost, due to it having the longest orbital period, and slowest orbital motion. It had been determined that the stars were much farther away than the planets. |
| Mars | Planet of the Solar System | 1609 − 1619 | 2.6 AU when Mars is diametrically opposed to Earth | Kepler correctly characterized Mars and Earth's orbits in the publication Astronomia nova. It had been conjectured that the fixed stars were much farther away than the planets. |
| Sun | Star | 3rd century BC — 1609 | 380 Earth radii (very inaccurate, true=16000 Earth radii) | Aristarchus of Samos made a measurement of the distance of the Sun from the Earth in relation to the distance of the Moon from the Earth. The distance to the Moon was described in Earth radii (20, also inaccurate). The diameter of the Earth had been calculated previously. At the time, it was assumed that some of the planets were further away, but their distances could not be measured. The order of the planets was conjecture until Kepler determined the distances from the Sun of the five known planets that were not Earth. It had been conjectured that the fixed stars were much farther away than the planets. |
| Moon | Moon of a planet | 3rd century BC | 20 Earth radii (very inaccurate, true=64 Earth radii) | Aristarchus of Samos made a measurement of the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The diameter of the Earth had been calculated previously. |
| z represents redshift, a measure of recessional velocity and inferred distance due to cosmological expansion mas represents parallax, a measure of angle and distance can be determined through trigonometry |||||

## List of objects by year of discovery that turned out to be most distant

This list contains a list of most distant objects by year of discovery of the object, not the determination of its distance. Objects may have been discovered without distance determination, and were found subsequently to be the most distant known at that time. However, object must have been named or described. An object like OJ 287 is ignored even though it was detected as early as 1891 using photographic plates, but ignored until the advent of radiotelescopes.
Examples :
| Year of record | Modern light travel distance (Mly) | Object | Type | Detected using | First record by $^{(1)}$ |
| 964 | 2.5 | Andromeda Galaxy | Spiral galaxy | naked eye | furthest object visible with the naked eye, but first recorded by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi |
| 1654 | 3 | Triangulum Galaxy | Spiral galaxy | refracting telescope | Giovanni Battista Hodierna |
| 1779 | 68 | Messier 58 | Barred spiral galaxy | refracting telescope | Charles Messier |
| 1785 | 76.4 | NGC 584 | Galaxy | | William Herschel |
| 1880s | 206 ± 29 | NGC 1 | Spiral galaxy | | Dreyer, Herschel |
| 1959 | 2,400 | 3C 273 | Quasar | Parkes Radio Telescope | Maarten Schmidt, Bev Oke |
| 1960 | 5,000 | 3C 295 | Radio galaxy | Palomar Observatory | Rudolph Minkowski |
| Data missing from table ||||||
| 2009 | 13,000 | GRB 090423 | Gamma-ray burst progenitor | Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission | Krimm, H. et al. |