New Zealand Local Weather Forum

Climate and Science => Space, Science and Nature => Topic started by: Deano on September 22, 2012, 05:48:36 PM

Title: Astronomers find a galaxy very far, far away
Post by: Deano on September 22, 2012, 05:48:36 PM

Astronomers have found what they believe may be the most distant galaxy ever seen.

NASA said light from the galaxy travelled about 13.2 billion light-years before it was captured by NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes and first shone when our 13.7-billion-year-old universe was only 500 million years old.

Astronomers said the galaxy existed when the universe began to transition from the so-called cosmic dark ages. During this period, the universe went from a dark, starless expanse to a cosmos full of galaxies.

The discovery of the faint, small galaxy opens a window into the deepest, remotest epochs of cosmic history.
Story here from NZHearld http://www.nzherald.co.nz/space/news/article.cfm?c_id=325&objectid=10835291 (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/space/news/article.cfm?c_id=325&objectid=10835291)

Title: Re: Astronomers find a galaxy very far, far away
Post by: Suezy on September 22, 2012, 08:57:23 PM

Thanks for that Deano and will pass on to son.  He is camping in the observatory tonight with sleeping bag etc.
Also just downloaded the new Skylabsafari Pro and far better than my other one.  Took ages to download too as our broadband is not flash out here.