Archive · 19 Nov 2025
Astronomers Discover 'Star Factory' Galaxy Forming Stars 180x Faster Than Milky Way
Scientists found a very old galaxy that makes stars super fast, 180 times more than our galaxy.
This helps us understand how galaxies grew quickly in the early universe.
Astronomers found galaxy Y1, a 'star factory' producing stars 180 times faster than the Milky Way
Y1 existed just 800 million years after the Big Bang, making it one of the earliest galaxies discovered
Researchers used ALMA to measure Y1's superheated cosmic dust temperature, analyzing light that traveled 13 billion years
The discovery sheds light on the rapid growth of galaxies in the early universe and the formation of the first stars
Y1's intense starburst phase is believed to be short-lived, but similar star factories could have been common in the early universe
- Who
- Astronomers led by Tom Bakx of Chalmers University of Technology
- What
- Discovered galaxy Y1, a 'star factory' producing stars rapidly
- When
- The galaxy existed 800 million years after the Big Bang
- Where
- In space, 13 billion light-years away
- Why
- To understand early galaxy formation and the universe's infancy
Proponents of the Discovery
Skeptics
Existence of Y1
Proponents of the Discovery
Y1's existence is confirmed by direct observation and analysis of its light
Skeptics
More evidence is needed to confirm Y1's authenticity and uniqueness
- Galaxy Name
- Y1
- Age
- 800 million years after the Big Bang
- Distance
- 13 billion light-years away
- Star Production Rate
- Approximately 180 solar masses per year
- Temperature of Cosmic Dust
- About -356°F (-180°C)