List of the most distant astronomical objects

This article documents the most distant astronomical objects discovered and verified so far, and the time periods in which they were so classified.

JADES-GS-z14-0 has been determined to be at a redshift of 14.32, making it the current record-holder for the most distant known galaxy (May 2024). This corresponds to a time less than 300 million years after the big bang.

For comparisons with the light travel distance of the astronomical objects listed below, the age of the universe since the Big Bang is currently estimated as 13.787±0.020 Gyr.^[1]

Distances to remote objects, other than those in nearby galaxies, are nearly always inferred by measuring the cosmological redshift of their light. By their nature, very distant objects tend to be very faint, and these distance determinations are difficult and subject to errors. An important distinction is whether the distance is determined via spectroscopy or using a photometric redshift technique. The former is generally both more precise and also more reliable, in the sense that photometric redshifts are more prone to being wrong due to confusion with lower redshift sources that may have unusual spectra. For that reason, a spectroscopic redshift is conventionally regarded as being necessary for an object's distance to be considered definitely known, whereas photometrically determined redshifts identify "candidate" very distant sources. Here, this distinction is indicated by a "p" subscript for photometric redshifts.

The proper distance provides a measurement of how far a galaxy is at a fixed moment in time. At the present time the proper distance equals the comoving distance since the cosmological scale factor has value one: ${\displaystyle a(t_{0})=1}$. The proper distance represents the distance obtained as if one were able to freeze the flow of time (set ${\displaystyle dt=0}$ in the FLRW metric) and walk all the way to a galaxy while using a meter stick.^[2] For practical reasons, the proper distance is calculated as the distance traveled by light (set ${\displaystyle ds=0}$ in the FLRW metric) from the time of emission by a galaxy to the time an observer (on Earth) receives the light signal. It differs from the “light travel distance” since the proper distance takes into account the expansion of the universe, i.e. the space expands as the light travels through it, resulting in numerical values which locate the most distant galaxies beyond the Hubble sphere and therefore with recession velocities greater than the speed of light c.^[3]   

Most distant spectroscopically-confirmed objects

Most distant astronomical objects with spectroscopic redshift determinations

Image	Name	Redshift (z)	Light travel distance§ (Gly)[4][5][6][7]	Proper distance (Gly)	Type	Notes
	JADES-GS-z14-0	z = 14.32+0.08 −0.20			Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[8]
	JADES-GS-z14-1	z = 13.90+0.17 −0.17			Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[9]
	JADES-GS-z13-0	z = 13.20+0.04 −0.07	13.576[4] / 13.596[5] / 13.474[6] / 13.473[7]	33.6	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[10]
	UNCOVER-z13	z = 13.079+0.014 −0.001	13.51	32.56†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[11]
	JADES-GS-z13-1	z = 13.05	13.47		Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter, discovered by JWST in 2025.[12]
	JADES-GS-z12-0	z = 12.63+0.24 −0.08	13.556[4] / 13.576[5] / 13.454[6] / 13.453[7]	32.34†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRCam [10] and JWST/NIRSpec,[13] and CIII] line emission with JWST/NIRSpec.[13] Most distant spectroscopic redshift from emission lines; most distant detection of non-primordial elements (C, O, Ne).
	UNCOVER-z12	z = 12.393+0.004 −0.001	13.48	32.21†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[11]
	GLASS-z12	z = 12.117+0.01 −0.01	13.536[4] / 13.556[5] / 13.434[6] / 13.433[7]	33.2	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST/NIRCam, confirmed by ALMA detection of [O III] emission[14]
	UDFj-39546284	z = 11.58+0.05 −0.05	13.512[4] / 13.532[5] / 13.410[6] / 13.409[7]	31.77†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec.[10]
	CEERS J141946.36+525632.8 (Maisie's Galaxy) [15]	z = 11.44+0.09 −0.08	13.4	31.69†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST
	CEERS2 588 [16]	z = 11.04	13.45	31.45†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST
	GN-z11	z = 10.6034 ± 0.0013	13.481[4] / 13.501[5] / 13.380[6] / 13.379[7]	31.18†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy; detection of the Lyman break with HST at 5.5σ[17] and carbon emission lines with Keck/MOSFIRE at 5.3σ.[18] Conclusive redshift by JWST in February 2023[13]
	JADES-GS-z10-0 UDFj-39546284	z = 10.38+0.07 −0.06	13.449[4] / 13.469[5] / 13.348[6] / 13.347[7]	31.04†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec[10]
	JD1	z = 9.793±0.002	13.409[4] / 13.429[5] / 13.308[6] / 13.307[7]	30.12†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy, detection of the Lyman break with JWST/NIRSpec[19]
	Gz9p3	z = 9.3127 ± 0.0002	13.277[4]	30.27†	Galaxy	A galaxy merger with a redshift estimated from [OII], Ne and H emission lines detected with JWST.[20]
	MACS1149-JD1	z = 9.1096±0.0006	13.361[4] / 13.381[5] / 13.261[6] / 13.260[7]	30.37	Galaxy	Detection of hydrogen emission line with the VLT, and oxygen line with ALMA[21]
	EGSY8p7	z = 8.683+0.001 −0.004	13.325[4] / 13.345[5] / 13.225[6] / 13.224[7]	30.05	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter; detection of Lyman-alpha with Keck/MOSFIRE at 7.5σ confidence[22]
	SMACS-4590	z = 8.496	13.308[4] / 13.328[5] / 13.208[6] / 13.207[7]	29.71†	Galaxy	Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec[23][24][25][26]
	A2744 YD4	z = 8.38	13.297[4] / 13.317[5] / 13.197[6] / 13.196[7]	29.50†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha and [O III] emission detected with ALMA at 4.0σ confidence[27]
	MACS0416 Y1	z = 8.3118±0.0003	13.290[4] / 13.310[5] / 13.190[6] / 13.189[7]	29.44†	Galaxy	[O III] emission detected with ALMA at 6.3σ confidence[28]
	GRB 090423	z = 8.23+0.06 −0.07	13.282[4] / 13.302[5] / 13.182[6] / 13.181[7]	30	Gamma-ray burst	Lyman-alpha break detected[29]
	RXJ2129-11002	z = 8.16±0.01	13.175[4]	29.31†	Galaxy	[O III] doublet, Hβ, and [O II] doublet as well as Lyman-alpha break detected with JWST/NIRSpec prism[30]
	RXJ2129-11022	z = 8.15±0.01	13.174[4]	29.30†	Galaxy	[O III] doublet and Hβ as well as Lyman-alpha break detected with JWST/NIRSpec prism[30]
	EGS-zs8-1	z = 7.7302±0.0006	13.228[4] / 13.248[5] / 13.129[6] / 13.128[7]	29.5	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy[31]
	SMACS-6355	z = 7.665	13.221[4] / 13.241[5] / 13.121[6] / 13.120[7]	28.83	Galaxy	Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec[23][24][25][26]
	z7_GSD_3811	z = 7.6637±0.0011	13.221[4] / 13.240[5] / 13.121[6] / 13.120[7]	28.83†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[32]
	SMACS-10612	z = 7.658	13.221[4] / 13.241[5] / 13.120[6] / 13.119[7]	28.83†	Galaxy	Detection of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon emission lines with JWST/NIRSpec[23][24][25]>[26]
	QSO J0313–1806	z = 7.6423±0.0013	13.218[4] / 13.238[5] / 13.119[6] / 13.118[7]	30	Quasar	Lyman-alpha break detected[33]
	ULAS J1342+0928	z = 7.5413±0.0007	13.206[4] / 13.226[5] / 13.107[6] / 13.106[7]	29.36	Quasar	Redshift estimated from [C II] emission[34]
	z8_GND_5296	z = 7.51	13.202[4] / 13.222[5] / 13.103[6] / 13.102[7]	30.01	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[35]
	A1689-zD1	z = 7.5±0.2	13.201[4] / 13.221[5] / 13.102[6] / 13.101[7]	30	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy[36]
	GS2_1406	z = 7.452±0.003	13.195[4] / 13.215[5] / 13.096[6] / 13.095[7]	28.62†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[37]
	GN-108036	z = 7.213	13.164[4] / 13.184[5] / 13.065[6] / 13.064[7]	29	Galaxy	Lyman alpha emitter[38]
	SXDF-NB1006-2	z = 7.2120±0.0003	13.164[4] / 13.184[5] / 13.065[6] / 13.064[7]	29	Galaxy	[O III] emission detected[39]
	BDF-3299	z = 7.109±0.002	13.149[4] / 13.169[5] / 13.051[6] / 13.050[7]	28.25	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy[40]
	ULAS J1120+0641	z = 7.085±0.003	13.146[4] / 13.166[5] / 13.048[6] / 13.047[7]	29.85	Quasar	Redshift estimated from Si III]+C III] and Mg II emission lines[41]
	A1703 zD6	z = 7.045±0.004	13.140[4] / 13.160[5] / 13.042[6] / 13.041[7]	29	Galaxy	Gravitationally-lensed Lyman-alpha emitter[42]
	BDF-521	z = 7.008±0.002	13.135[4] / 13.155[5] / 13.037[6] / 13.036[7]	28.43†	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy[40]
	G2_1408	z = 6.972±0.002	13.130[4] / 13.150[5] / 13.032[6] / 13.030[7]	28.10†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[43]
	IOK-1	z = 6.965	13.129[4] / 13.149[5] / 13.030[6] / 13.029[7]	28.09†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[38]
	LAE J095950.99+021219.1	z = 6.944	13.126[4] / 13.146[5] / 13.028[6] / 13.027[7]	28.07†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[44]
	SDF-46975	z = 6.844	13.111[4] / 13.131[5] / 13.013[6] / 13.012[7]	27.95†	Galaxy	Lyman-alpha emitter[38]
	PSO J172.3556+18.7734	z = 6.823+0.003 −0.001	13.107[4] / 13.127[5] / 13.010[6] / 13.009[7]	27.93†	Quasar (astrophysical jet)	Redshift estimated from Mg II emission[45]
§ The tabulated distance is the light travel distance, which has no direct physical significance. See discussion at distance measures and Observable Universe † Numeric value obtained using Wright (2006)[5] with ${\displaystyle H_{0}}$ = 70, ${\displaystyle \Omega _{CM}}$ = 0.30, ${\displaystyle \Omega _{DE}}$ = 0.70.

Candidate most distant objects

Since the beginning of the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) science operations in June 2022, numerous distant galaxies far beyond what could be seen by the Hubble Space Telescope (z = 11) have been discovered thanks to the JWST's capability of seeing far into the infrared.^[46][47] Previously in 2012, there were about 50 possible objects z = 8 or farther, and another 100 candidates at z = 7, based on photometric redshift estimates released by the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) project from observations made between mid-2002 and December 2012.^[48] Some objects included here have been observed spectroscopically, but had only one emission line tentatively detected, and are therefore still considered candidates by researchers.^[49][50]

Notable candidates for most distant astronomical objects

Name	Redshift (z)	Light travel distance§ (Gly)	Type	Notes
F200DB-045	zp = 20.4+0.3 −0.3[47] or 0.70+0.19 −0.55[46] or 0.40+0.15 −0.26[51]	13.725[4] / 13.745[5] / 13.623[6] / 13.621[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47] NOTE: The redshift value of the galaxy presented by the procedure in one study[46] may differ from the values presented in other studies using different procedures.[47][52][51]
F200DB-175	zp = 16.2+0.3 −0.0	13.657[4] / 13.677[5] / 13.555[6] / 13.554[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
S5-z17-1	z = 16.0089±0.0004 or 4.6108±0.0001	13.653[4] / 13.673[5] / 13.551[6] / 13.550[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST; tentative (5.1σ) ALMA detection of a single emission line possibly attributed to either [C II] (z = 4.6108±0.0001) or [O III] (z = 16.0089±0.0004).[49][50]
F150DB-041	zp = 16.0+0.2 −0.2[47] or 3.70+0.02 −0.59[46]	13.653[4] / 13.673[5] / 13.551[6] / 13.549[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47][46]
SMACS-z16a	zp = 15.92+0.17 −0.15[53] or 2.96+0.73 −0.21[46]	13.651[4] / 13.671[5] / 13.549[6] / 13.548[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46]
F200DB-015	zp = 15.8+3.4 −0.1	13.648[4] / 13.668[5] / 13.546[6] / 13.545[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F200DB-181	zp = 15.8+0.5 −0.3	13.648[4] / 13.668[5] / 13.546[6] / 13.545[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F200DB-159	zp = 15.8+4.0 −15.2	13.648[4] / 13.668[5] / 13.546[6] / 13.545[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F200DB-086	zp = 15.4+0.6 −14.6[47] or 3.53+10.28 −1.84[46]	13.639[4] / 13.659[5] / 13.537[6] / 13.536[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47][46]
SMACS-z16b	zp = 15.32+0.16 −0.13[53] or 15.39+0.18 −0.26[46]	13.637[4] / 13.657[5] / 13.535[6] / 13.534[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46]
F150DB-048	zp = 15.0+0.2 −0.8	13.629[4] / 13.649[5] / 13.527[6] / 13.526[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-007	zp = 14.6+0.4 −0.4	13.619[4] / 13.639[5] / 13.517[6] / 13.516[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-004	zp = 14.0+0.4 −2.0	13.602[4] / 13.622[5] / 13.500[6] / 13.499[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-079	zp = 13.8+0.5 −1.9	13.596[4] / 13.616[5] / 13.494[6] / 13.493[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-007	zp = 13.4+0.6 −2.0	13.583[4] / 13.603[5] / 13.481[6] / 13.480[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-053	zp = 13.4+0.3 −2.3	13.583[4] / 13.603[5] / 13.481[6] / 13.480[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-050	zp = 13.4+0.6 −10.0	13.583[4] / 13.603[5] / 13.481[6] / 13.480[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-058	zp = 13.4+0.6 −12.5[47] 3.42+0.30 −0.20[46]	13.583[4] / 13.603[5] / 13.481[6] / 13.480[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47][46]
F150DA-038	zp = 13.4+0.4 −13.2	13.583[4] / 13.603[5] / 13.481[6] / 13.480[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
HD1	z = 13.27	13.579[4] / 13.599[5] / 13.477[6] / 13.476[7]	Galaxy	Not yet spectroscopically confirmed. Guinness World Record of the most distant confirmed galaxy Lyman-break galaxy (5σ confidence) followed with a tentative ALMA detection of a single [O III] oxygen emission line only (4σ confidence)[54]
F150DA-010	zp = 12.8+0.6 −1.5	13.562[4] / 13.582[5] / 13.460[6] / 13.459[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
S5-z12-1	zp = 12.57+1.23 −0.46	13.553[4] / 13.573[5] / 13.452[6] / 13.451[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
CEERS-27535 4	zp = 12.56+1.75 −0.27	13.553[4] / 13.573[5] / 13.452[6] / 13.451[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
SMACS-1566	zp = 12.29+1.50 −0.44	13.542[4] / 13.562[5] / 13.441[6] / 13.440[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
SMACS-z12b (F150DA-077)	zp = 12.26+0.17 −0.16[53][46] or 13.4+0.4 −1.7[47]	13.541[4] / 13.561[5] / 13.440[6] / 13.439[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46][47]
SMACS-z12a	zp = 12.20+0.21 −0.12	13.539[4] / 13.559[5] / 13.437[6] / 13.436[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46]
CR2-z12-4	zp = 12.08+2.11 −1.25	13.534[4] / 13.554[5] / 13.432[6] / 13.431[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
SMACS-10566	zp = 12.03+0.57 −0.26	13.532[4] / 13.552[5] / 13.430[6] / 13.429[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
XDFH-2395446286	zp = 12.0+0.1 −0.2	13.530[4] / 13.550[5] / 13.429[6] / 13.428[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble[56]
CR2-z12-2	zp = 11.96+1.44 −0.87	13.529[4] / 13.549[5] / 13.427[6] / 13.426[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
9-BUSCAR	zp = 11.91+0.10 −0.22	13.527[4] / 13.547[5] / 13.425[6] / 13.424[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[57]
SMACS-8347	zp = 11.90+0.27 −0.39	13.526[4] / 13.546[5] / 13.425[6] / 13.424[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
CEERS-26409 4	zp = 11.90+1.60 −0.70	13.526[4] / 13.546[5] / 13.425[6] / 13.424[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
F150DB-069	zp = 11.8+1.7 −0.2	13.522[4] / 13.542[5] / 13.420[6] / 13.419[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
XDFH-2334046578	zp = 11.8+0.4 −0.5	13.522[4] / 13.542[5] / 13.420[6] / 13.419[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble[56]
CR2-z12-3	zp = 11.66+0.69 −0.71	13.515[4] / 13.535[5] / 13.414[6] / 13.413[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
CR2-z12-1	zp = 11.63+0.51 −0.53	13.514[4] / 13.534[5] / 13.413[6] / 13.412[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
F150DB-088	zp = 11.6+0.3 −0.2	13.513[4] / 13.533[5] / 13.411[6] / 13.410[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-084	zp = 11.6+0.4 −0.4	13.513[4] / 13.533[5] / 13.411[6] / 13.410[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-044	zp = 11.4+0.4 −11.3	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
XDFH-2404647339	zp = 11.4+0.4 −0.5	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy detected by JWST and Hubble[56]
F150DB-075	zp = 11.4+0.4 −0.1[47] 0.04+0.01 −0.01[46]	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47][46]
F150DA-062	zp = 11.4+0.3 −0.3[47] 1.78+0.20 −0.08[46]	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47][46]
CEERS-127682	zp = 11.40+0.59 −0.51	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
CEERS-5268 2	zp = 11.40+0.30 −1.11	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
F150DA-060	zp = 11.4+0.6 −8.2	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-031	zp = 11.4+1.0 −8.2	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-052	zp = 11.4+0.8 −10.6	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DB-054	zp = 11.4+0.5 −10.8	13.503[4] / 13.523[5] / 13.402[6] / 13.401[7]	Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
SMACS-z11d	zp = 11.28±0.32 or 2.35+0.30 −0.67		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[46]
CEERS-77241	zp = 11.27+0.39 −0.70		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
CEERS-6647	zp = 11.27+0.58 −0.28		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
CEERS-622 4	zp = 11.27+0.48 −0.60		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
SMACS-z11c	zp = 11.22±0.32 or 3.84+0.05 −0.04		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[46]
SMACS-z11b	zp = 11.22±0.56 or 6.94+0.07 −0.07		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[46]
F150DA-005	zp = 11.2+0.4 −0.3		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-020	zp = 11.2+0.2 −7.9		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
CEERS-61486	zp = 11.15+0.37 −0.35		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[55]
SMACS-z11e (F150DA-081)	zp = 11.10+0.21 −0.34[46] or 13.4+0.6 −2.2[47]		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[46][47]
SMACS-z11a	zp = 11.05+0.09 −0.08[53] or 1.73+0.18 −0.04[46]		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46]
CR3-z12-1	zp = 11.05+2.24 −0.47		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[49]
F150DA-026	zp = 11.0+0.5 −0.3		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
F150DA-036	zp = 11.0+0.4 −7.8		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
SMACS-z10e	zp = 10.89+0.16 −0.14[53] or 1.38+1.37 −0.24[46]		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[53][46]
F150DB-040	zp = 10.8+0.3 −0.2		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[47]
EGS-14506	zp = 10.71+0.34 −0.62		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[58]
MACS0647-JD	zp = 10.6±0.3		Galaxy	Gravitationally lensed into three images by a galaxy cluster; detected by JWST and Hubble[59][60]
GLASS-z10 (GLASS-1698)[55]	z = 10.38		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST; tentative (4.4σ) ALMA detection of [O III] emission line only[61][62]
EGS-7860	zp = 10.11+0.60 −0.82		Galaxy	Lyman-break galaxy discovered by JWST[58]
SPT0615-JD	zp = 9.9+0.8 −0.6	13.419[4]	Galaxy	[63]
A2744-JD	zp≅9.8	13.412[4]	Galaxy	Galaxy is being magnified and lensed into three multiple images, geometrically supporting its redshift.[64][65]
MACS1149-JD1	zp≅9.6	13.398[4][66]	Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy	[67]
GRB 090429B	zp≅9.4	13.383[4][68]	Gamma-ray burst	[69] The photometric redshift in this instance has quite large uncertainty, with the lower limit for the redshift being z>7.
UDFy-33436598	zp≅8.6	13.317[4]	Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy	[70]
UDFy-38135539	zp≅8.6	13.317[4]	Candidate galaxy or protogalaxy	A spectroscopic redshift of z = 8.55 was claimed for this source in 2010,[71] but has subsequently been shown to be mistaken.[72]
BoRG-58	zp≅8	13.258[4]	Galaxy cluster or protocluster	Protocluster candidate[73]
§ The tabulated distance is the light travel distance, which has no direct physical significance. See discussion at distance measures and Observable Universe

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

List of most distant objects by type

Most distant object by type

Type	Object	Redshift (distance)	Notes
Any astronomical object, no matter what type	JADES-GS-z14-0	z = 14.32	Most distant galaxy with a spectroscopically confirmed redshift as of 2024[update].[8]
Galaxy or protogalaxy
Galaxy cluster	CL J1001+0220	z ≅ 2.506	As of 2016[74] See also: List of galaxy clusters
Galaxy supercluster	Hyperion proto-supercluster	z = 2.45	This supercluster at the time of its discovery in 2018 was the earliest and largest proto-supercluster found to date.[75] See also: List of superclusters
Galaxy protocluster	A2744z7p9OD	z = 7.88	This protocluster at the time of its discovery in 2023 was the most distant protocluster found and spectroscopically confirmed to date.[76] See also: List of galaxy groups and clusters
Quasar	UHZ1	z ~ 10.0	[77] See also: List of quasars
Black hole	GN-z11	z = 10.6034±0.0013[78]	[79][80][81]
Star or protostar or post-stellar corpse (detected by an event)	Progenitor of GRB 090423	z = 8.2	[82][29] Note, GRB 090429B has a photometric redshift zp≅9.4,[83] and so is most likely more distant than GRB 090423, but is lacking spectroscopic confirmation. See also: List of gamma-ray bursts Estimated an approximate distance of 13 billion lightyears from Earth
Star or protostar or post-stellar corpse (detected as a star)	WHL0137-LS (Earendel)	z = 6.2 ± 0.1 (12.9 Gly)	Most distant individual star detected (March, 2022).[84][85] Previous records include SDSS J1229+1122[86] and MACS J1149 Lensed Star 1.[87]
Star cluster	The Sparkler	z = 1.378 (13.9 Gly)	Galaxy with globular clusters gravitationally lensed in SMACS J0723.3-7327[88]
System of star clusters
X-ray jet	PJ352–15 quasar jet	z = 5.831 (12.7 Gly)[89]	The previous recordholder was at 12.4 Gly.[90][91]
Microquasar	XMMU J004243.6+412519	(2.5 Mly)	First extragalactic microquasar discovered[92][93][94]
Nebula-like object	Himiko	z = 6.595	Possibly one of the largest objects in the early universe.[95][96]
Magnetic field	9io9	z = 2.554 (11.1 Gly)	Observations from ALMA has shown that the lensed galaxy 9io9 contains a magnetic field.
Planet	SWEEPS-11 / SWEEPS-04	(27,710 ly)	[97] An analysis of the lightcurve of the microlensing event PA-99-N2 suggests the presence of a planet orbiting a star in the Andromeda Galaxy.[98] A controversial microlensing event of lobe A of the double gravitationally lensed Q0957+561 suggests that there is a planet in the lensing galaxy lying at redshift 0.355 (3.7 Gly).[99][100]

Most distant event by type

Type	Event	Redshift	Notes
Gamma-ray burst	GRB 090423	z = 8.2	[82][29] Note, GRB 090429B has a photometric redshift zp≅9.4,[83] and so is most likely more distant than GRB 090423, but is lacking spectroscopic confirmation. See also: List of gamma-ray bursts
Core collapse supernova	SN 1000+0216	z = 3.8993	[101] See also: List of most distant supernovae
Type Ia supernova	SN UDS10Wil	z = 1.914	[102] See also: List of supernovae
Type Ia supernova	SN SCP-0401 (Mingus)	z = 1.71	First observed in 2004, it was not until 2013 that it could be identified as a Type-Ia SN.[103][104] See also: List of supernovae
Cosmic Decoupling	Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation creation	z~1000 to 1089	[105][106]

Timeline of most distant astronomical object recordholders

Objects in this list were found to be the most distant object at the time of determination of their distance. This is frequently not the same as the date of their discovery.

Distances to astronomical objects may be determined through parallax measurements, use of standard references such as cepheid variables or Type Ia supernovas, or redshift measurement. Spectroscopic redshift measurement is preferred, while photometric redshift measurement is also used to identify candidate high redshift sources. The symbol z represents redshift.

Most distant object titleholders (not including candidates based on photometric redshifts)

Object	Type	Date	Distance (z = Redshift)	Notes
JADES-GS-z14-0	Galaxy	2024–present	z = 14.32
JADES-GS-z13-0	Galaxy	2022–2024	z = 13.20	[10]
GN-z11	Galaxy	2016–2022	z = 10.6	[17][18]
EGSY8p7	Galaxy	2015−2016	z = 8.68	[107][108][109][110]
Progenitor of GRB 090423 / Remnant of GRB 090423	Gamma-ray burst progenitor / Gamma-ray burst remnant	2009–2015	z = 8.2	[29][111]
IOK-1	Galaxy	2006 − 2009	z = 6.96	[111][112][113][114]
SDF J132522.3+273520	Galaxy	2005 − 2006	z = 6.597	[114][115]
SDF J132418.3+271455	Galaxy	2003 − 2005	z = 6.578	[115][116][117][118]
HCM-6A	Galaxy	2002 − 2003	z = 6.56	The galaxy is lensed by galaxy cluster Abell 370. This was the first non-quasar galaxy found to exceed redshift 6. It exceeded the redshift of quasar SDSSp J103027.10+052455.0 of z = 6.28[116][117][119][120][121][122]
SDSS J1030+0524 (SDSSp J103027.10+052455.0)	Quasar	2001 − 2002	z = 6.28	[123][124][125][126][127][128]
SDSS 1044–0125 (SDSSp J104433.04–012502.2)	Quasar	2000 − 2001	z = 5.82	[129][130][127][128][131][132][133]
SSA22-HCM1	Galaxy	1999–2000	z>=5.74	[130][134]
HDF 4-473.0	Galaxy	1998–1999	z = 5.60	[134]
RD1 (0140+326 RD1)	Galaxy	1998	z = 5.34	[135][136][137][134][138]
CL 1358+62 G1 & CL 1358+62 G2	Galaxies	1997 − 1998	z = 4.92	These were the most remote objects discovered at the time. The pair of galaxies were found lensed by galaxy cluster CL1358+62 (z = 0.33). This was the first time since 1964 that something other than a quasar held the record for being the most distant object in the universe.[136][139][140][137][134][141]
PC 1247–3406	Quasar	1991 − 1997	z = 4.897	[142][129][143][144][145][146]
PC 1158+4635	Quasar	1989 − 1991	z = 4.73	[129][146][147][148][149][150]
Q0051–279	Quasar	1987 − 1989	z = 4.43	[151][147][150][152][153][154]
Q0000–26 (QSO B0000–26)	Quasar	1987	z = 4.11	[151][147][155]
PC 0910+5625 (QSO B0910+5625)	Quasar	1987	z = 4.04	This was the second quasar discovered with a redshift over 4.[129][147][156][157]
Q0046–293 (QSO J0048–2903)	Quasar	1987	z = 4.01	[151][147][156][158][159]
Q1208+1011 (QSO B1208+1011)	Quasar	1986 − 1987	z = 3.80	This is a gravitationally-lensed double-image quasar, and at the time of discovery to 1991, had the least angular separation between images, 0.45″.[156][160][161]
PKS 2000-330 (QSO J2003–3251, Q2000–330)	Quasar	1982 − 1986	z = 3.78	[156][162][163]
OQ172 (QSO B1442+101)	Quasar	1974 − 1982	z = 3.53	[164][165][166]
OH471 (QSO B0642+449)	Quasar	1973 − 1974	z = 3.408	Nickname was "the blaze marking the edge of the universe".[164][166][167][168][169]
4C 05.34	Quasar	1970 − 1973	z = 2.877	Its redshift was so much greater than the previous record that it was believed to be erroneous, or spurious.[166][170][171][172]
5C 02.56 (7C 105517.75+495540.95)	Quasar	1968 − 1970	z = 2.399	[141][172][173]
4C 25.05 (4C 25.5)	Quasar	1968	z = 2.358	[141][172][174]
PKS 0237–23 (QSO B0237–2321)	Quasar	1967 − 1968	z = 2.225	[170][174][175][176][177]
4C 12.39 (Q1116+12, PKS 1116+12)	Quasar	1966 − 1967	z = 2.1291	[141][177][178][179]
4C 01.02 (Q0106+01, PKS 0106+1)	Quasar	1965 − 1966	z = 2.0990	[141][177][178][180]
3C 9	Quasar	1965	z = 2.018	[177][181][182][183][184][185]
3C 147	Quasar	1964 − 1965	z = 0.545	[186][187][188][189]
3C 295	Radio galaxy	1960 − 1964	z = 0.461	[134][141][190][191][192]
LEDA 25177 (MCG+01-23-008)	Brightest cluster galaxy	1951 − 1960	z = 0.2 (V = 61000 km/s)	This galaxy lies in the Hydra Supercluster. It is located at B1950.0 08h 55m 4s +03° 21′ and is the BCG of the fainter Hydra Cluster Cl 0855+0321 (ACO 732).[134][192][193][194][195][196][197]
LEDA 51975 (MCG+05-34-069)	Brightest cluster galaxy	1936 –	z = 0.13 (V = 39000 km/s)	The brightest cluster galaxy of the Bootes Cluster (ACO 1930), an elliptical galaxy at B1950.0 14h 30m 6s +31° 46′ apparent magnitude 17.8, was found by Milton L. Humason in 1936 to have a 40,000 km/s recessional redshift velocity.[196][198][199]
LEDA 20221 (MCG+06-16-021)	Brightest cluster galaxy	1932 –	z = 0.075 (V = 23000 km/s)	This is the BCG of the Gemini Cluster (ACO 568) and was located at B1950.0 07h 05m 0s +35° 04′[198][200]
BCG of WMH Christie's Leo Cluster	Brightest cluster galaxy	1931 − 1932	z = (V = 19700 km/s)	[200][201][202][203]
BCG of Baede's Ursa Major Cluster	Brightest cluster galaxy	1930 − 1931	z = (V = 11700 km/s)	[203][204]
NGC 4860	Galaxy	1929 − 1930	z = 0.026 (V = 7800 km/s)	[204][205][206]
NGC 7619	Galaxy	1929	z = 0.012 (V = 3779 km/s)	Using redshift measurements, NGC 7619 was the highest at the time of measurement. At the time of announcement, it was not yet accepted as a general guide to distance, however, later in the year, Edwin Hubble described redshift in relation to distance, which became accepted widely as an inferred distance.[205][207][208]
NGC 584 (Dreyer nebula 584)	Galaxy	1921 − 1929	z = 0.006 (V = 1800 km/s)	At the time, nebula had yet to be accepted as independent galaxies. However, in 1923, galaxies were generally recognized as external to the Milky Way.[196][205][207][209][210][211][212]
M104 (NGC 4594)	Galaxy	1913 − 1921	z = 0.004 (V = 1180 km/s)	This was the second galaxy whose redshift was determined; the first being Andromeda – which is approaching us and thus cannot have its redshift used to infer distance. Both were measured by Vesto Melvin Slipher. At this time, nebula had yet to be accepted as independent galaxies. NGC 4594 was measured originally as 1000 km/s, then refined to 1100, and then to 1180 in 1916.[205][209][212]
Arcturus (Alpha Bootis)	Star	1891 − 1910	160 ly (18 mas) (this is very inaccurate, true=37 ly)	This number is wrong; originally announced in 1891, the figure was corrected in 1910 to 40 ly (60 mas). From 1891 to 1910, it had been thought this was the star with the smallest known parallax, hence the most distant star whose distance was known. Prior to 1891, Arcturus had previously been recorded of having a parallax of 127 mas.[213][214][215][216]
Capella (Alpha Aurigae)	Star	1849–1891	72 ly (46 mas)	[217][218][219]
Polaris (Alpha Ursae Minoris)	Star	1847 – 1849	50 ly (80 mas) (this is very inaccurate, true=~375 ly)	[220][221]
Vega (Alpha Lyrae)	Star (part of a double star pair)	1839 – 1847	7.77 pc (125 mas)	[220]
61 Cygni	Binary star	1838 − 1839	3.48 pc (313.6 mas)	This was the first star other than the Sun to have its distance measured.[220][222][223]
Uranus	Planet of the Solar System	1781 − 1838	18 AU	This was the last planet discovered before the first successful measurement of stellar parallax. It had been determined that the stars were much farther away than the planets.
Saturn	Planet of the Solar System	1619 − 1781	10 AU	From Kepler's Third Law, it was finally determined that Saturn is indeed the outermost of the classical planets, and its distance derived. It had only previously been conjectured to be the outermost, due to it having the longest orbital period, and slowest orbital motion. It had been determined that the stars were much farther away than the planets.
Mars	Planet of the Solar System	1609 − 1619	2.6 AU when Mars is diametrically opposed to Earth	Kepler correctly characterized Mars and Earth's orbits in the publication Astronomia nova. It had been conjectured that the fixed stars were much farther away than the planets.
Sun	Star	3rd century BC — 1609	380 Earth radii (very inaccurate, true=16000 Earth radii)	Aristarchus of Samos made a measurement of the distance of the Sun from the Earth in relation to the distance of the Moon from the Earth. The distance to the Moon was described in Earth radii (20, also inaccurate). The diameter of the Earth had been calculated previously. At the time, it was assumed that some of the planets were further away, but their distances could not be measured. The order of the planets was conjecture until Kepler determined the distances from the Sun of the five known planets that were not Earth. It had been conjectured that the fixed stars were much farther away than the planets.
Moon	Moon of a planet	3rd century BC	20 Earth radii (very inaccurate, true=64 Earth radii)	Aristarchus of Samos made a measurement of the distance between the Earth and the Moon. The diameter of the Earth had been calculated previously.
z represents redshift, a measure of recessional velocity and inferred distance due to cosmological expansion mas represents parallax, a measure of angle and distance can be determined through trigonometry

List of objects by year of discovery that turned out to be most distant

This list contains a list of most distant objects by year of discovery of the object, not the determination of its distance. Objects may have been discovered without distance determination, and were found subsequently to be the most distant known at that time. However, object must have been named or described. An object like OJ 287 is ignored even though it was detected as early as 1891 using photographic plates, but ignored until the advent of radiotelescopes.

Examples

Year of record	Modern light travel distance (Mly)	Object	Type	Detected using	First record by (1)
964	2.5[224]	Andromeda Galaxy	Spiral galaxy	naked eye	furthest object visible with the naked eye, but first recorded by Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi[225]
1654	3	Triangulum Galaxy	Spiral galaxy	refracting telescope	Giovanni Battista Hodierna[226]
1779	68[227]	Messier 58	Barred spiral galaxy	refracting telescope	Charles Messier[228]
1785	76.4[229]	NGC 584	Galaxy		William Herschel
1880s	206 ± 29[230]	NGC 1	Spiral galaxy		Dreyer, Herschel
1959	2,400[231]	3C 273	Quasar	Parkes Radio Telescope	Maarten Schmidt, Bev Oke[232]
1960	5,000[233]	3C 295	Radio galaxy	Palomar Observatory	Rudolph Minkowski
Data missing from table
2009	13,000[234]	GRB 090423	Gamma-ray burst progenitor	Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission	Krimm, H. et al.[235]

See also

• Age of the universe
• List of largest cosmic structures
• List of exoplanet extremes
• Lists of astronomical objects
• List of most distant stars
• Timeline of knowledge about galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and large-scale structure