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Ancient galaxy was revealed through Hubble and Spitzer observations increasing the number of ancient galaxy recently discovered to 22.
Ancient galaxy was revealed through Hubble and Spitzer observations increasing the number of ancient galaxy recently discovered to 22.
The ancient galaxy has received the name Tayna. In the Aymara language of South America, Tayna means first born. A name fitting the ancient galaxy perfectly as the astronomers team dated the galaxy to 400 million years following the Big Bang.
Tayna galaxy is approximately as large as the Large Magellanic Cloud according to the observations of the two telescopes, Hubble and Spitzer. While it may be as large as the Large Magellanic Cloud, the small satellite galaxy in the vicinity of our own Milky Way, the rate of star formation in Tayna galaxy is ten times larger.
As the ancient galaxy is still in its infancy, the astronomers team suggests that what they have witnessed is just the core of a larger galaxy that will one day form. This is not the first instance of either Spitzer Telescope or Hubble telescope revealing ancient galaxies. However, it is the first time that an ancient galaxy was revealed through Hubble and Spitzer observations together.
At the same time, Tayna galaxy is the smallest as well as the faintest brought to light to date. Its discovery bears great significance for the astronomers team who believe that it is an instance of the a perfect study on the early universe.
As Tayna galaxy is dated to 400 million years following the Big Bang, its study could shed more light on the forming of galaxies in the early universe, as well as their evolution. Leopold Infante with the Pontifical Catholic University, Chile and lead author of the study featuring in the Astrophysical Journal, stated:
“Thanks to this detection, the team has been able to study for the first time the properties of extremely faint objects formed not long after the Big Bang”.
Tayna galaxy is part of the 22 ancient galaxies group formed shortly after the Big Bang. Also being the faintest of the group, the ancient galaxy was revealed thanks to the gravitational lensing technique of the Hubble Telescope which pictured Tayna 20 times brighter than it is.
Adding the Spitzer Telescope images, Tayna galaxy could be revealed in a colored profile.
Photo Credits: thespacereporter.com
