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Astronomers analyzing two of the deepest views of the cosmos made with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered a gold mine of galaxies, more than 500 that existed less than a billion years after the Big Bang. These galaxies thrived when the cosmos was less than 7 percent of its present age of 13.7 billion years. This sample, of which 28 are seen here, represents the most comprehensive compilation of galaxies in the early universe. The galaxies appear red because of their tremendous distance from Earth. The blue light from their young stars took nearly 13 billion years to arrive at Earth. During the journey, the blue light was shifted to red light due to the expansion of space.

Object Name: HUDF Galaxies

Image Type: Astronomical/Illustration

Credit: NASA, ESA, R. Bouwens and G. Illingworth (University of California, Santa Cruz)

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Montage Image: Distant Galaxies in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image Type: Astronomical/Illustration PRC2006-12

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