Reaching for the stars - JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy of a lensed star candidate at z = 4.76

We present JWST/NIRSpec observations of a highly magnified star candidate at a photometric redshift of z_phot ≃ 4.8, previously detected in JWST/NIRCam imaging of the strong lensing (SL) cluster MACS J0647+7015 (z = 0.591). The spectroscopic observation allows us to precisely measure the redshift of the host arc at z_spec = 4.758 ± 0.004, and the star's spectrum displays clear Lyman- and Balmer-breaks commensurate with this redshift. A fit to the spectrum suggests a B-type super-giant star of surface temperature $T_{\mathrm{eff,B}}\simeq 15\, 000$ K with either a redder F-type companion ($T_{\mathrm{eff,F}}\simeq 6\, 250$ K) or significant dust attenuation (A_V ≃ 0.82) along the line of sight. We also investigate the possibility that this object is a magnified young globular cluster rather than a single star. We show that the spectrum is in principle consistent with a star cluster, which could also accommodate the lack of flux variability between the two epochs. However, the lack of a counter image and the strong upper limit on the size of the object from lensing symmetry, r ≲ 0.5 pc, could indicate that this scenario is somewhat less likely - albeit not completely ruled out by the current data. The presented spectrum seen at a time when the Universe was only ~1.2 Gyr old showcases the ability of JWST to study early stars through extreme lensing.