Cosmoview Episode 53: Potential First Traces of the Universe’s Earliest Stars
Channel: NOIRLabAstro
Date: 2022-09-29

Astronomers may have discovered the ancient chemical remains of the first stars to light up the Universe. Using an innovative analysis of a distant quasar observed by the 8.1-meter Gemini North telescope on Hawai‘i, operated by NSF NOIRLab, the scientists found an unusual ratio of elements that, they argue, could only come from the debris produced by the all-consuming explosion of a 300-solar-mass first-generation star.

More information and download options: http://noirlab.edu/public/videos/noirlab2222a/

Credit:
Images and Videos: PROGRAM/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, S. Brunier/Digitized Sky Survey 2, E. Slawik, J. Pollard  
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)  
Music: Stellardrone - Airglow