Ancient Galaxy Unveiled in Quasar's Glare: Astronomers Probe Early Universe

Using a technique that observes the light absorbed by a galaxy rather than the light it emits, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered an 11-billion-year-old galaxy hidden behind the glare of a quasar. By analyzing the absorption patterns, the team determined that the galaxy is likely a more mature galaxy similar to the Milky Way and is gravitationally bound to a nearby star-forming galaxy. Further observations are planned to study this galactic group and potentially observe the absorbing galaxy emit its own light.