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European Southern Observatory

European Southern Observatory

Intergovernmental Research Organization

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Astronomers capture first direct image of a cosmic web filament

New Capabilities

Operates the telescope and instrument used

For decades, astronomers have predicted the cosmic web: vast filaments of hydrogen gas threading the universe between galaxies. On May 16, 2026, an international team published the first sharp, direct image of one — a 3-million-light-year strand feeding two galaxies as they appeared 12 billion years ago.

Updated Yesterday