Newly Discovered Young Galaxy Creates 4,000 Stars Per Year 81
Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have found a galaxy producing an average of up to 4,000 stars per year. They contrast this with the Milky Way, which only produces an average of 10 each year. Nicknamed "Baby Boom," it is a young starburst galaxy, and its stellar birth rate conflicts with a commonly accepted model for the growth of a galaxy. Quoting:
"'The question now is whether the majority of the very most massive galaxies form very early in the universe like the Baby Boom galaxy, or whether this is an exceptional case. Answering this question will help us determine to what degree the Hierarchical Model of galaxy formation still holds true,' [said Peter Capak of NASA's Spitzer Science Center] 'The incredible star-formation activity we have observed suggests that we may be witnessing, for the first time, the formation of one of the most massive elliptical galaxies in the universe,' said co-author Nick Scoville of Caltech, the principal investigator of the Cosmic Evolution Survey,
Re:For what value of 'year'? (Score:2, Insightful)
That's really insightful. I hope mods don't miss this comment.
Re:For what value of 'year'? (Score:5, Insightful)
Except that it would be slower, not faster.
Re:More teenage angst (Score:3, Insightful)
Don't worry, in 5 billion years, when we collide with Andromeda, we'll be in a very exciting galaxy... i don't think scientists really know what happens when 2 galaxies collide, but the coolest thing that could happen is 2 habituated solar systems, coming within easy radio range of one another.
I believe a while back scientists were predicting that the formation of large gas giants, and small, earth like planets was more common than earlier thought, thus improving the odds of extra terrestrial life.
now if only a scientifically advanced civilization can survive for 5 billion years, and still be able to send radio waves to passerby solar systems.
I don't have much faith in humans surviving that long, population growth problems, limited resources, the possibility of 'real' atomic war...
Re:Clearly.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe Mexicans have a better sense of humor than Mormons.
Re:an average of up to 4,000 stars (Score:3, Insightful)
Not necessarily. They obviously know that it won't produce an exact number of 4K stars per year. So they are trying to guess the average, and 4K seems to be the upper limit of that guess.
Example:
Reporter: How many stars are produced by this galaxy per year?
Pinhead: Oh, I don't know, my guess is about 1K to 4K stars per year, but certainly not over 4K.
Reporter: Thanks, we'll use the upper limit if you don't mind.