Post by glactus on Jan 15, 2011 2:24:43 GMT
Distant galaxies (Every dot is a galaxy)
Astronomers have discovered a massive cluster of young galaxies formed in the distant Universe. The growing galactic metropolis named COSMOS -AZ Tech 3 is the most distant know massive proto cluster of galaxies, laying about 26 billion light years away from Earth. Members of the developing clusters are shown here circled in white in this image taken by Japan's Subaru telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii.
The Subaru telescope on Mauna kea
The cluster is roughly 12.6 billion light-years away from Earth. Our universe is estimated to be 13.7 billion years old. Previously, more mature versions of these clusters had been spotted at 10 billion light-years away.
The astronomers also found that this cluster is buzzing with extreme bursts of star formation and one enormous feeding black hole.
COSMOS-AzTEC3, located in the constellation Sextans, is named after the region where it was found, called COSMOS after the Cosmic Evolution Survey. AzTEC is the name of the camera used in this survey.
The Antennae galaxies
Credits: These are Mauna kea images
This is part text only. See full text and all scientists involved at Space daily.com
www.spacedaily.com/reports/Most_Distant_Galaxy_Cluster_Identified_999.html
