A Tiny Galaxy is Born
Depicts: POX 186, PGC 046982
Copyright: NASA and Michael Corbin (CSC/STScI)
Evidence of the galaxy's youthfulness can be seen in the burst of newborn stars and its disturbed shape. This evidence indicates that the galaxy, called POX 186, formed when two smaller clumps of gas and stars collided less than 100 million years ago (a relatively recent event in the universe's 13-billion-year history), triggering more star formation. Most large galaxies, such as our Milky Way, are thought to have formed the bulk of their stars billions of years ago.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
