An Indian research team has discovered a galaxy resembling the Milky Way, naming it Alaknanda after a sacred river. The finding was made using the James Webb Space Telescope. Researchers Rashi Jain and Yogesh Wadadekar from NCRA-TIFR led the effort.
Indian astronomers Rashi Jain and Yogesh Wadadekar, affiliated with the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (NCRA-TIFR), have identified a spiral galaxy that mirrors the Milky Way in structure and formation. Dubbed Alaknanda, the galaxy was observed through data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which provided unprecedented clarity on distant cosmic structures.
The discovery sheds light on galaxy formation and cosmic evolution, as Alaknanda represents an early counterpart to our own galaxy. The name Alaknanda honors one of the Himalayan rivers originating from the Gangotri Glacier, symbolizing the flow of scientific insight from ancient inspirations to modern astronomy.
This breakthrough highlights the contributions of Indian scientists to global astrophysics, leveraging JWST's infrared capabilities to peer into the universe's past. The findings were announced on December 3, 2025, marking a significant moment for India's space research community.