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NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which celebrated its 31st anniversary earlier this year, has found six dead galaxies in deep space in a remarkable discovery.
Galaxies ran out of the cold hydrogen needed to make stars when the universe was about 3 billion years old, considered the “most prolific star-birth period in its history,” according to a statement from the US space agency.
The six galaxies are known as MRG-M1341, MRG-M0138, MRG-M2129, MRG-M0150, MRG-M0454, and MRG-M1423.
Six dead galaxies are in deep space, about 11 billion light years away. The six galaxies are known as MRG-M1341 (pictured top left and right), MRG-M0138, MRG-M2129 (pictured bottom left and right), MRG-M0150, MRG-M0454 and MRG -M1423
The discovery was made by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (pictured), in conjunction with the Atacama Large Millimeter / submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile
The discovery was made in collaboration with the Atacama Large Millimeter / submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile.
“At this point in our universe, all galaxies should form a lot of stars. This is the peak time of star formation, ”Kate Whitaker, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and lead author of the study, said in the statement.
“So what happened to all the cold gas in these galaxies so soon?” ”
As of now, scientists don’t know why galaxies ran out of gas 11 billion years ago, leaving them to speculate.
“Did a supermassive black hole in the center of the galaxy ignite and heat all the gas?” If so, the gas could still be there, but now it’s hot, ”added Whitaker.
“Or he could have been kicked out and now he’s prevented from building up in the galaxy.”
Whitaker continued, “Or has the galaxy used everything and the supply is cut off?” These are some of the open questions that we will continue to explore with new observations down the road.
These galaxies are likely to never get any younger, even if other galaxies merge with other small galaxies nearby.
By absorbing other galaxies, it “blows up” the dead galaxies and if for some reason they start to create new stars, it feels like “a kind of icing,” Whitaker added.
Despite the absence of star formation, these galaxies are believed to have evolved and developed.
The galaxies were studied as part of the Resolving QUIEscent Magnified Galaxies At High Redshift (REQUIEM) program, which examines distant red-colored galaxies.
A technique known as the “gravitational lens” was applied to find galaxies, Whitaker said.
“Using a powerful gravitational lens as a natural telescope, we can find the distant, most massive, and first galaxies to stop star formation,” Whitaker explained.
“I like to think of it as doing science in the 2030s or ’40s – with powerful next-gen space telescopes – but today more of a combination of the capabilities of Hubble and ALMA, which are bolstered by one powerful lens. “
The study was published in the scientific journal Nature.
The universe is generally thought to be around 14 billion years old, based on the Hubble constant of 70
The universe is generally thought to be around 14 billion years old, based on the Hubble constant of 70.
In 2019, scientists in a separate study suggested that the Hubble constant is 82.4, which would make the universe about 11.4 billion years old.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is still in operation and has made more than 1.3 million observations since its mission began in 1990
The Hubble Telescope was launched on April 24, 1990 via Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
It is named after the famous astronomer Edwin Hubble, born in Missouri in 1889.
He is arguably most famous for discovering that the universe expands and the speed at which it does so – now coined the Hubble constant.
The Hubble Telescope is named after famous astronomer Edwin Hubble, born in Missouri in 1889 (pictured)
Hubble has made more than 1.3 million observations since the start of its mission in 1990 and has contributed to the publication of more than 15,000 scientific papers.
It orbits the Earth at a speed of approximately 17,000 mph (27,300 km / h) in low Earth orbit at approximately 340 miles above sea level.
Hubble has a aiming accuracy of 0.007 arc second, which is equivalent to being able to project a focused laser beam at Franklin D. Roosevelt’s head at a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km).
The Hubble Telescope is named after Edwin Hubble, responsible for the Hubble constant and one of the greatest astronomers of all time.
Hubble’s main mirror is 2.4 meters (7 feet, 10.5 inches) in diameter and in total 13.3 meters (43.5 feet) long – the length of a large school bus.
The launch and deployment of Hubble in April 1990 marked the most significant advance in astronomy since the Galileo Telescope.
Thanks to five maintenance missions and more than 25 years of operation, our vision of the universe and our place within it have never been the same.
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