The James Webb Space Telescope has identified an intriguing dwarf galaxy named PEARLSDG.

Astronomers made this discovery while observing a cluster of galaxies, and PEARLSDG unexpectedly appeared in a region of space where no celestial presence was anticipated.

In a recent paper published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists noted peculiarities in PEARLSDG’s behavior, particularly its lack of star formation activity.

Unlike typical dwarf galaxies, which are considerably smaller than galaxies like the Milky Way, containing anywhere from 1,000 to 100 billion stars, PEARLSDG exhibited unusual traits by not generating new stars.

In contrast, the Milky Way, hosting 200 to 400 billion stars, is orbited by numerous dwarf galaxies, such as Triangulum II and the Small Magellanic Cloud.

These smaller galaxies are often influenced in their formation by interactions with larger galactic neighbors, Newsweek reported.

Notably, PEARLSDG deviates from the conventional characteristics of a dwarf galaxy, as it neither interacts with a nearby galaxy nor engages in the formation of new stars.

Scientists speculate that PEARLSDG may represent a rare instance of an isolated quiescent galaxy—galaxies that have ceased the process of producing new stars.

Written by B.C. Begley