Earendel and the Sunrise Arc (inside Galaxy Cluster WHL0137-08)

You’re peering into the massive galaxy cluster called WHL0137-08, contained inside is the most strongly magnified galaxy known from the Universe’s first billion years: the Sunrise Arc, and within that galaxy, we are able to see the most distant star ever detected. The star, nicknamed Earendel, was first discovered by Hubble. Webb’s subsequent observations have revealed it to be a massive star, more than twice as hot as our Sun, and about a million times brighter. Earendel is only detectable thanks to the chance alignment of another galaxy cluster situated between the star and us. The intervening cluster’s gravity bends Earendel’s light, magnifying it by a factor of at least 4000 - allowing us the opportunity to photograph it. For an alternative, a detailed view focusing on the Sunrise Arc Galaxy and Earendel star, is available.