Webb's PEARLS: Bright 1.5--2.0 micron Dropouts in the Spitzer/IRAC Dark Field

Understand

Using the first epoch of four-band NIRCam observations obtained by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science Program in the Spitzer IRAC Dark Field, we search for F150W and F200W dropouts.

• In 14.2 arcmin^2, we have found eight F150W dropouts and eight F200W dropouts, all brighter than 27.5 mag (the brightest being ~24 mag) in the band to the red side of the break.
• As they are detected in multiple bands, these must be real objects.
• Their nature, however, is unclear, and characterizing their properties is important for realizing the full potential of JWST.