National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Faint "Teenage" Galaxies Found in Early Universe


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Scientists surveying a distant portion of the universe have detected "teenage" galaxies—which are believed to be the building blocks of larger galaxies such as our own Milky Way—for the first time.

The 27 so-called protogalaxies were identified by characteristic light wavelengths, which indicate they have low mass and low rates of star formation.

Images courtesy ESO/G. Becker, A. Bunker, M. Haehnelt, M. Rauch