Hidden Galaxies Come to Light

Astronomers have added 14 “invisible galaxies” to their map of the heavens, thanks to an imaginative breakthrough and a massive telescope. Researchers realized that some galaxies might be hidden by the bright lights of quasars behind them, so they scanned quasar data for “dips” where those lights might be passing through galaxies, Space.com reports.

Quasars are small, extremely bright cosmic beacons that outshine galaxies. Using infrared technology, scientists found galaxies in 70% of the irregularities their research turned up. Even more exciting, many were “starburst galaxies,” which are actively creating about 20 suns per year. The team foresees its findings sparking a new wave of galaxy hunters. (More astronomy stories.)