Thanks to recent achievements in telescope technology, astronomers can peer deeper into the universe than ever before. Here is a glowing cloud of hydrogen gas from one of the most distant known galaxies. 4C41.17 is a radio galaxy; it also gives off strong visible light emissions. Some astronomers believe a power source in the galaxyΓÇÖs center has ejected hot plasma, which is causing intense star formation. The new stars make the galaxy incredibly bright.
Light from distant objects must travel a very long time to reach the Earth. The light from 4C41.17 originated from its source about 15 billion years ago, which means we are seeing the galaxy as it appeared when it and the universe were
