Astronomy Prof. Trinh Thuan recently identified the youngest galaxy ever discovered in the universe.
Thuan and Yuri Izotov, an astronomer at the Kiev Observatory in Ukraine, were able to determine the age of the I Zwicky 18 galaxy after requesting that the Hubble space telescope be directed at the galaxy.
They identified the galaxy as only 500 million years old, compared to, for example, the Milky Way galaxy, which is 12 billion years old.
The galaxy "sat around as a cloud of gas for 13 billion years," Thuan said. "Most galaxies form very early on, around a few 100 million years after the Big Bang 14 billion years ago."
Thuan said the age identification of the galaxy proves that not all galaxies were formed during or shortly after the Big Bang.
"What is interesting is that the galaxy formation is still occurring 13 billion years after the big bang," he said.
Astronomy Department Chair Prof. Robert Rood said the age identification is a valuable revelation about a new young class of stars.
"I think it was a really nice piece of work," Rood said.
According to Thuan, the identification proves that galaxy formation is an ongoing process.
"It's very rare -- that is why it is so exciting," Thuan said.
The finding was reported in the Dec. 1 issue of the Astrophysical Journal, but Thuan's collaboration with Isotov began 10 years ago as a result of their shared interest in metal deficient galaxies.
According to Thuan, Isotov, who is from the Ukraine, worked at the University from February to April 2005 to analyze Hubble space telescope images of I Zwicky 18. During that time they came to the conclusion that it was the youngest galaxy.
Thuan said the I Zwicky 18 galaxy is also the most metal deficient star forming galaxy in the universe. It is 30 million light years away and contains only 2 percent of the heavy elements found in our galaxy's sun, the standard measure of comparison. Instead, it is mainly made up of helium and hydrogen.
The I Zwicky 18 galaxy, along with a catalog of 30,000 nearby galaxies, was discovered by Swiss astronomer Fred Zwicky 34 years ago. While many astronomers have suspected that the galaxy was the youngest in the universe, the Hubble space telescope's sensitivity allowed Thuan and Izotov to confirm its age by identifying the oldest stars in the galaxy to determine its age.
Read More
Visa status restored for one international student and two recent University graduates
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayAccording to a statement from University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover, the University learned of the visa terminations of the current student and two alumni April 4
Students react to President Ryan signing national letter defending higher education
By Brendon Bordwine | YesterdayWhile some students praised the move as a stand for academic freedom, others questioned its impact amid recent DEI rollbacks and safety concerns
Honor Committee adjusts panel scheduling and discusses term goals for subcommittees
By Bertie Azqueta | 2 days agoThe Committee will not reconvene for an in-person meeting until the Fall 2025 semester.
