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Astronomers Find Stars 7 Billion Light Years Away

Posted by Zonk on from the long-trip dept.

StArSkY writes "The Age has an article about an international team of astronomers that has discovered 14 galaxies, opening up a new era of 'galaxy hunting'. Using an infrared instrument in Chile (the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope ) — the researchers have been able to look through the glare of 20 Quasar's to identify previously obscured galaxies. 'Light from the newly found galaxies comes from the time the universe was about 6 billion years old, less than half its current age. By studying the light, the researchers have determined they are starburst galaxies that form lots of new stars -- the equivalent of 20 suns a year. Dr Murphy, who began working on the project while a research fellow at the University of Cambridge, described the results as a great leap forward. The findings have been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal. '"

4 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Expansionary galaxies? by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I remember reading about star-making galaxies and how the stresses of gravity were used to "tear" space apart and create matter from the resulting energy differential. I wonder if that's similar to these starburst galaxies.

    Wouldn't it be nice to live longer than our measly 70-90 years and be able to watch the progression of our knowledge? Reading this kind of article always makes me regret that I was perhaps born this early in humanity's history.

    1. Re:Expansionary galaxies? by Turn-X+Alphonse · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Giving up mod points in this article to reply.

      I agree with you entirely.. I'm not scared of death, I'm scared of not knowing tomorrow. I'm sure glad I live in 2007 instead of 1807 but at the same time I don't have wish it was 3007. But for all we know humanity will get wiped out at the end of this decade and we're at the peak of human civilization at this moment in time.

      So I see where you're coming from, but we could be the final humans just as we're likely to be the first humans who meet aliens. :)

      --
      I like muppets.
  2. Title is misleading by scarpa · · Score: 5, Informative

    The point of the article is not that the galaxies were 7 billion light years away, there have been galaxies observed over 10 billion light years from us.

    The real story is that these galaxies were in front of quasars and the infrared technique has now allowed observation of them.

    1. Re:Title is misleading by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The real story is that these galaxies were in front of quasars and the infrared technique has now allowed observation of them.

      But quasars cover only a very small part of the sky. It's like moving a dead cockroach that's under the couch to reveal more dust, just like the rest of the dust on the couch. But its just regular dust.

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      Table-ized A.I.