Because the study of infrared radiation is limited from Earth’s surface
(water and carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere block most of it),
astronomers had a limited knowledge of starburst galaxies. This changed
when an infrared telescope was mounted onto a satellite observatory that
was sent into space in 1983. Three countries—the United States, England,
and the Netherlands—combined their efforts to develop and launch the
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The IRAS was equipped with an
infrared telescope that observed, among other things, that thousands of
starburst galaxies exist in space. It also showed that starburst galaxies
consist of nearly one-third of the energy in the universe, suggesting that
starburst galaxies are the main source of new stars.
Another high-tech space observatory was launched in 1990. The
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent into space and acted as an
observatory for astronomers from dozens of countries. With its highresolution
camera sending back sharp pictures to Earth, the HST showed
that violent star formations—typically thought to occur only in distant
galaxies—also occurred in the closest starburst galaxy (about 1,000 lightyears
from Earth). The HST also confirmed the theory that stars are often
born in dense clusters (close groupings) within starburst galaxies.
(water and carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere block most of it),
astronomers had a limited knowledge of starburst galaxies. This changed
when an infrared telescope was mounted onto a satellite observatory that
was sent into space in 1983. Three countries—the United States, England,
and the Netherlands—combined their efforts to develop and launch the
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). The IRAS was equipped with an
infrared telescope that observed, among other things, that thousands of
starburst galaxies exist in space. It also showed that starburst galaxies
consist of nearly one-third of the energy in the universe, suggesting that
starburst galaxies are the main source of new stars.
Another high-tech space observatory was launched in 1990. The
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was sent into space and acted as an
observatory for astronomers from dozens of countries. With its highresolution
camera sending back sharp pictures to Earth, the HST showed
that violent star formations—typically thought to occur only in distant
galaxies—also occurred in the closest starburst galaxy (about 1,000 lightyears
from Earth). The HST also confirmed the theory that stars are often
born in dense clusters (close groupings) within starburst galaxies.
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