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May 6, 2008 Vol. 1, Issue 4

 

Five years ago this month, NASA set out to explore the history of galaxies and stars with the launch of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX).

GALEX, the most sensitive ultraviolet (UV) telescope ever launched, is part of NASA’s “Structure and Evolution of the Universe” mission. Its main objective is to determine how the galaxies in our universe were formed. As it orbits and gathers data 428 miles above earth, GALEX seeks out galaxies in which star formation is active and ongoing. Information gleaned from the study of these stars helps scientists understand more about the origins of the Milky Way and other galaxies. GALEX is able to measure the history of star formation as far as back as 10 billion years, or more than three-quarters of the way back to the Big Bang.

In addition to capturing information about galaxy and star formation, GALEX is performing an all-sky UV survey in hopes of producing a comprehensive map of the universe. So far, GALEX has observed hundreds of thousands of galaxies during its travels.

GALEX was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force station on April 28, 2003 by a Pegasus XL rocket released from a L-1011 cargo plane. A Small Explorer Class mission, GALEX was originally conceived for a 29-month mission. In 2006, its mission was extended, and it continues today.

Read more about GALEX.

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