NASA spots newborn galaxy

HOUSTON, DECEMBER 22: Firm evidence that our universe is still forming has been obtained by an orbiting NASA telescope which has revealed what appears to be massive new galaxies.

Scientists, using a NASA telescope, launched in April 2003, found three dozen galaxies emitting ultraviolet light at levels that would indicate stars are still forming and supernovas are still exploding in the cosmic neighborhood that could help unravel forces behind the earliest star systems.

The discovery has excited astronomers because it runs contrary to the established belief that only small new galaxies are being formed by the ageing universe.

‘‘This is almost like looking out the window and seeing a dinosaur walk by,’’ said Tim Heckman, an astronomer specialising in galaxy evolution at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. ‘‘We thought this type of galaxy had gone extinct, but in fact newborn galaxies are alive and well in the universe,’’ he added.

While any measurement of space time is difficult to comprehend relative to human life-span, the new galaxies are considered to be relatively young - between 100 million and one billion years old. Our own Milky Way is ten billion years old.

NASA launched its $100 million Galaxy Evolution Explorer 20 months ago to look for newborn star systems in the distant, early cosmos. Also known as Galex the small orbital telescope is equipped with optical systems sensitive to ultraviolet light unleashed during star formation.

The Galex team hopes the galactic infants have similar composition and structure as ancient and unseen distant siblings. Scientists said the Hubble Telescope must be repaired before a comparison can be made between earliest galaxies and latest discoveries.

Since scientists believe the universe is about 13 billion years old, the mission will study galaxies and stars across about ten billion years of cosmic history.

Scientists hope to learn if young stars merge into bigger galaxies

Researchers said study results would be published in an upcoming issue of Astrophysical Journal Letters.