The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7

Alice E. Shapley; Ryan L. Sanders; Michael W. Topping; Naveen A. Reddy; Anthony J. Pahl; Pascal A. Oesch; Danielle A. Berg; Rychard J. Bouwens; Gabriel Brammer; Adam C. Carnall; Fergus Cullen; Romeel Davé; James S. Dunlop; Richard S. Ellis; N. M. Förster Schreiber; Steven R. Furlanetto; Karl Glazebrook; Garth D. Illingworth; Tucker Jones; Mariska Kriek; Derek J. McLeod; Ross J. McLure; Desika Narayanan; Max Pettini; Daniel Schaerer; Daniel P. Stark; Charles C. Steidel; Mengtao Tang; Leonardo Clarke; Callum T. Donnan; Emily Kehoe

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98

The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7

Alice E. Shapley^*, Ryan L. Sanders, Michael W. Topping, Naveen A. Reddy, Anthony J. Pahl, Pascal A. Oesch, Danielle A. Berg, Rychard J. Bouwens, Gabriel Brammer, Adam C. Carnall, Fergus Cullen, Romeel Davé, James S. Dunlop, Richard S. Ellis, N. M. Förster Schreiber, Steven R. Furlanetto, Karl Glazebrook, Garth D. Illingworth, Tucker Jones, Mariska KriekDerek J. McLeod, Ross J. McLure, Desika Narayanan, Max Pettini, Daniel Schaerer, Daniel P. Stark, Charles C. Steidel, Mengtao Tang, Leonardo Clarke, Callum T. Donnan, Emily Kehoe

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present the properties of a massive, large, dusty, metal-rich, star-forming galaxy at z_spec = 6.73. GOODSN-100182 was observed with JWST/NIRSpec as part of the Assembly of Ultradeep Rest-optical Observations Revealing Astrophysics (AURORA) survey, and is also covered by public multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope and JWST imaging. While the large stellar mass of GOODSN-100182 (∼10¹⁰ M_⊙) was indicated prior to JWST, NIRCam rest-frame optical imaging now reveals the presence of an extended disk (r_eff ∼ 1.5 kpc). In addition, the NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 spectrum of GOODSN-100182 includes the detection of a large suite of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines ranging in wavelength from [O ii] λ3727 up to [N ii] λ6583. The ratios of Balmer lines suggest significant dust attenuation ( E ( B − V ) gas = 0.4 0 − 0.09 + 0.10 ), consistent with the red rest-frame UV slope inferred for GOODSN-100182 (β = −0.50 ± 0.09). The star formation rate based on dust-corrected Hα emission is log ( SFR(H α ) / M ⊙ yr − 1 ) = 2.0 2 − 0.14 + 0.13 , well above the z ∼ 7 star-forming main sequence in terms of specific star formation rate. Strikingly, the ratio of [N ii] λ6583/Hα emission suggests almost solar metallicity, as does the ratio ([O iii] λ5007/Hβ)/([N ii] λ6583/Hα) and the detection of the faint [Fe ii] λ4360 emission feature. Overall, the excitation and ionization properties of GOODSN-100182 more closely resemble those of typical star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2-3 rather than z ∼ 7. Based on public spectroscopy of the GOODS-N field, we find that GOODSN-100182 resides within a significant galaxy overdensity, and is accompanied by a spectroscopically confirmed neighbor galaxy. GOODSN-100182 demonstrates the existence of mature, chemically enriched galaxies within the first billion years of cosmic time, whose properties must be explained by galaxy formation models.

Original language	English
Article number	167
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	981
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98
Publication status	Published - 6 Mar 2025

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Shapley, A. E., Sanders, R. L., Topping, M. W., Reddy, N. A., Pahl, A. J., Oesch, P. A., Berg, D. A., Bouwens, R. J., Brammer, G., Carnall, A. C., Cullen, F., Davé, R., Dunlop, J. S., Ellis, R. S., Förster Schreiber, N. M., Furlanetto, S. R., Glazebrook, K., Illingworth, G. D., Jones, T., ... Kehoe, E. (2025). The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7. Astrophysical Journal, 981(2), 1-13. Article 167. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98

@article{e31cac35059b4225a33ddd7cc4e6ebee,

title = "The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7",

abstract = "We present the properties of a massive, large, dusty, metal-rich, star-forming galaxy at zspec = 6.73. GOODSN-100182 was observed with JWST/NIRSpec as part of the Assembly of Ultradeep Rest-optical Observations Revealing Astrophysics (AURORA) survey, and is also covered by public multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope and JWST imaging. While the large stellar mass of GOODSN-100182 (∼1010 M⊙) was indicated prior to JWST, NIRCam rest-frame optical imaging now reveals the presence of an extended disk (reff ∼ 1.5 kpc). In addition, the NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 spectrum of GOODSN-100182 includes the detection of a large suite of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines ranging in wavelength from [O ii] λ3727 up to [N ii] λ6583. The ratios of Balmer lines suggest significant dust attenuation ( E ( B − V ) gas = 0.4 0 − 0.09 + 0.10 ), consistent with the red rest-frame UV slope inferred for GOODSN-100182 (β = −0.50 ± 0.09). The star formation rate based on dust-corrected Hα emission is log ( SFR(H α ) / M ⊙ yr − 1 ) = 2.0 2 − 0.14 + 0.13 , well above the z ∼ 7 star-forming main sequence in terms of specific star formation rate. Strikingly, the ratio of [N ii] λ6583/Hα emission suggests almost solar metallicity, as does the ratio ([O iii] λ5007/Hβ)/([N ii] λ6583/Hα) and the detection of the faint [Fe ii] λ4360 emission feature. Overall, the excitation and ionization properties of GOODSN-100182 more closely resemble those of typical star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2-3 rather than z ∼ 7. Based on public spectroscopy of the GOODS-N field, we find that GOODSN-100182 resides within a significant galaxy overdensity, and is accompanied by a spectroscopically confirmed neighbor galaxy. GOODSN-100182 demonstrates the existence of mature, chemically enriched galaxies within the first billion years of cosmic time, whose properties must be explained by galaxy formation models.",

author = "Shapley, {Alice E.} and Sanders, {Ryan L.} and Topping, {Michael W.} and Reddy, {Naveen A.} and Pahl, {Anthony J.} and Oesch, {Pascal A.} and Berg, {Danielle A.} and Bouwens, {Rychard J.} and Gabriel Brammer and Carnall, {Adam C.} and Fergus Cullen and Romeel Dav{\'e} and Dunlop, {James S.} and Ellis, {Richard S.} and {F{\"o}rster Schreiber}, {N. M.} and Furlanetto, {Steven R.} and Karl Glazebrook and Illingworth, {Garth D.} and Tucker Jones and Mariska Kriek and McLeod, {Derek J.} and McLure, {Ross J.} and Desika Narayanan and Max Pettini and Daniel Schaerer and Stark, {Daniel P.} and Steidel, {Charles C.} and Mengtao Tang and Leonardo Clarke and Donnan, {Callum T.} and Emily Kehoe",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "6",

doi = "10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98",

language = "English",

volume = "981",

pages = "1--13",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "2",

}

Shapley, AE, Sanders, RL, Topping, MW, Reddy, NA, Pahl, AJ, Oesch, PA, Berg, DA, Bouwens, RJ, Brammer, G, Carnall, AC , Cullen, F , Davé, R , Dunlop, JS, Ellis, RS, Förster Schreiber, NM, Furlanetto, SR, Glazebrook, K, Illingworth, GD, Jones, T, Kriek, M, McLeod, DJ , McLure, RJ, Narayanan, D, Pettini, M, Schaerer, D, Stark, DP, Steidel, CC, Tang, M, Clarke, L, Donnan, CT & Kehoe, E 2025, 'The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 981, no. 2, 167, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98

TY - JOUR

T1 - The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7

AU - Shapley, Alice E.

AU - Sanders, Ryan L.

AU - Topping, Michael W.

AU - Reddy, Naveen A.

AU - Pahl, Anthony J.

AU - Oesch, Pascal A.

AU - Berg, Danielle A.

AU - Bouwens, Rychard J.

AU - Brammer, Gabriel

AU - Carnall, Adam C.

AU - Cullen, Fergus

AU - Davé, Romeel

AU - Dunlop, James S.

AU - Ellis, Richard S.

AU - Förster Schreiber, N. M.

AU - Furlanetto, Steven R.

AU - Glazebrook, Karl

AU - Illingworth, Garth D.

AU - Jones, Tucker

AU - Kriek, Mariska

AU - McLeod, Derek J.

AU - McLure, Ross J.

AU - Narayanan, Desika

AU - Pettini, Max

AU - Schaerer, Daniel

AU - Stark, Daniel P.

AU - Steidel, Charles C.

AU - Tang, Mengtao

AU - Clarke, Leonardo

AU - Donnan, Callum T.

AU - Kehoe, Emily

PY - 2025/3/6

Y1 - 2025/3/6

N2 - We present the properties of a massive, large, dusty, metal-rich, star-forming galaxy at zspec = 6.73. GOODSN-100182 was observed with JWST/NIRSpec as part of the Assembly of Ultradeep Rest-optical Observations Revealing Astrophysics (AURORA) survey, and is also covered by public multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope and JWST imaging. While the large stellar mass of GOODSN-100182 (∼1010 M⊙) was indicated prior to JWST, NIRCam rest-frame optical imaging now reveals the presence of an extended disk (reff ∼ 1.5 kpc). In addition, the NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 spectrum of GOODSN-100182 includes the detection of a large suite of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines ranging in wavelength from [O ii] λ3727 up to [N ii] λ6583. The ratios of Balmer lines suggest significant dust attenuation ( E ( B − V ) gas = 0.4 0 − 0.09 + 0.10 ), consistent with the red rest-frame UV slope inferred for GOODSN-100182 (β = −0.50 ± 0.09). The star formation rate based on dust-corrected Hα emission is log ( SFR(H α ) / M ⊙ yr − 1 ) = 2.0 2 − 0.14 + 0.13 , well above the z ∼ 7 star-forming main sequence in terms of specific star formation rate. Strikingly, the ratio of [N ii] λ6583/Hα emission suggests almost solar metallicity, as does the ratio ([O iii] λ5007/Hβ)/([N ii] λ6583/Hα) and the detection of the faint [Fe ii] λ4360 emission feature. Overall, the excitation and ionization properties of GOODSN-100182 more closely resemble those of typical star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2-3 rather than z ∼ 7. Based on public spectroscopy of the GOODS-N field, we find that GOODSN-100182 resides within a significant galaxy overdensity, and is accompanied by a spectroscopically confirmed neighbor galaxy. GOODSN-100182 demonstrates the existence of mature, chemically enriched galaxies within the first billion years of cosmic time, whose properties must be explained by galaxy formation models.

AB - We present the properties of a massive, large, dusty, metal-rich, star-forming galaxy at zspec = 6.73. GOODSN-100182 was observed with JWST/NIRSpec as part of the Assembly of Ultradeep Rest-optical Observations Revealing Astrophysics (AURORA) survey, and is also covered by public multiwavelength Hubble Space Telescope and JWST imaging. While the large stellar mass of GOODSN-100182 (∼1010 M⊙) was indicated prior to JWST, NIRCam rest-frame optical imaging now reveals the presence of an extended disk (reff ∼ 1.5 kpc). In addition, the NIRSpec R ∼ 1000 spectrum of GOODSN-100182 includes the detection of a large suite of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines ranging in wavelength from [O ii] λ3727 up to [N ii] λ6583. The ratios of Balmer lines suggest significant dust attenuation ( E ( B − V ) gas = 0.4 0 − 0.09 + 0.10 ), consistent with the red rest-frame UV slope inferred for GOODSN-100182 (β = −0.50 ± 0.09). The star formation rate based on dust-corrected Hα emission is log ( SFR(H α ) / M ⊙ yr − 1 ) = 2.0 2 − 0.14 + 0.13 , well above the z ∼ 7 star-forming main sequence in terms of specific star formation rate. Strikingly, the ratio of [N ii] λ6583/Hα emission suggests almost solar metallicity, as does the ratio ([O iii] λ5007/Hβ)/([N ii] λ6583/Hα) and the detection of the faint [Fe ii] λ4360 emission feature. Overall, the excitation and ionization properties of GOODSN-100182 more closely resemble those of typical star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 2-3 rather than z ∼ 7. Based on public spectroscopy of the GOODS-N field, we find that GOODSN-100182 resides within a significant galaxy overdensity, and is accompanied by a spectroscopically confirmed neighbor galaxy. GOODSN-100182 demonstrates the existence of mature, chemically enriched galaxies within the first billion years of cosmic time, whose properties must be explained by galaxy formation models.

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U2 - 10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98

DO - 10.3847/1538-4357/adaf98

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:86000793204

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 981

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2

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ER -

The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7

Abstract

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Exploring the formation and growth of the first galaxies

ICE: Inception of the Chemical Elements

The Metal Contents Of Massive Galaxies Across Cosmic Time

Cite this

The AURORA Survey: An Extraordinarily Mature, Star-forming Galaxy at z ∼ 7

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Exploring the formation and growth of the first galaxies

ICE: Inception of the Chemical Elements

The Metal Contents Of Massive Galaxies Across Cosmic Time

Cite this