Galaxy discovered by Hubble Space Telescope lies 30 billion light years from Earth
Scientists estimate EGS-zs8-1 lies 30 billion light years from Earth. (NASA) NASA
A group of astronomers have confirmed the detection of an ancient galaxy, that may have been one of the earliest in the universe.
The galaxy, EGS-zs8-1, lies a few billion light-years on the other side of the constellation Boötes and is one of the largest observed in the known universe.
The light from the distant object has taken 13.1 billion years to reach human telescopes, however given the expansion of the universe in that time astronomers have estimated it now lies around 30 billion light-years away, according to Space.com.
A light-year measures the distance light travels in twelve months.
Scientists published the findings in the academic journal Astrophysical Journal Letters earlier this week.
The universe is thought to be about 13.8 billion years old, which makes the discovery one of the earliest galaxies in the cosmos.
The bright blue object was first observed by the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. Follow up observations were made by the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
