RedShift

An artist's impression of GN-z11, the most distant known galaxy

Astronomy

Astronomers precisely trace distance to oldest and farthest known galaxy

Astronomers have precisely measured the distance to the oldest and farthest known galaxy. Light left GN-z11 around 13.4 billion years ago, when the universe was a cosmic toddler, meaning this galaxy marks the very edge of the observable universe.

The researchers measured the mean temperature of cosmic gas from 10 billion years ago and compared it to gas from the present day

Astronomy

Mean temperature of the universe is rising over billions of years

Astronomers at Ohio State University have taken the mean temperature of cosmic gas at different distances and ages, and found that it’s roughly 10 times hotter today than it was 10 billion years ago, thanks to the evolution of galaxies and clusters.

Artist's impression from a point in the Alpha Centauri triple star system, showing the newly discovered planet orbiting around Alpha Centauri B, with Alpha Centauri A in the distance (Image: ESO)

Astronomy

Earth-sized planet with a molten surface discovered orbiting Alpha Centauri B

European astronomers have discovered a planet slightly more massive than Earth, orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri triple star system.