Astronomers discover galaxies so bright, they break the scale used to measure them

Astronomers have discovered the brightest galaxies yet, shinning so brightly, they do not even fall on a scale they use to measure luminosity. The discovery could help refine their understanding of the nature of the early universe and how galaxies formed.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Astronomers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have discovered eight galaxies that are so bright, they do not appear on a scale used to measure such things.

Astronomers measure the brightness of galaxies on a luminosity scale, which goes as high as 100 trillion suns. That is, the brightest measurement on the scale is a galaxy filled with 100 trillion sun-like stars. The Milky Way galaxy where our sun is located has about 100 to 400 billion stars.

Using the Large Millimeter Telescope in Mexico, one of the most sensitive telescopes in the world, they found galaxies with a luminosity of 300 trillion suns, more than three times brighter than the scale's maximum.

The astronomers say the galaxies are 10 billion light-years away, which means we are seeing them as they appeared 10 billion years ago, that's how long it has taken their light to reach us. When the galaxies formed, the universe was probably just 4 billion years old.

These galaxies are incredibly massive, much more so than any we understand today. They are so large, and so bright, astronomers estimate they are forming one new star per hour. This high rate of stellar formation means they are extremely rich in star-making materials.

By comparison, the Milky Way sees the birth of one new star every several months, about three per year.

Another theory why these galaxies are so bright is that they aren't really so bright, but for an effect called gravitational lensing. Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon that occurs when a distant object has its light bent and amplified by another massive object between the viewer and the object they are seeing. If gravitational lensing is occurring, it could be amplifying the light from these already bright galaxies by several orders of magnitude.

A galaxy is a collection of stars, gravitationally bound around a common center. Galaxies are formed of dust and gas which condenses in pockets to form stars and solar systems.

Discovering young galaxies of such immense size suggests that astronomers may have to rewrite their theories regarding the formation of stars and galaxies. How is it possible that a galaxy three times more massive and luminous than thought possible could form? The discovery suggests there is still a lot for us to learn. Fortunately, the scientific method is a powerful tool for discerning facts and information, and through its disciplined use, we can expect our knowledge to grow with each passing day.

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