Scientists spot galaxies 11 billion light years away

Nasa scientists have peered deep into stardust and spotted hidden galaxies more than 11 billion light years from Earth.

The scientists describe how the infrared Spitzer Space Telescope was used to find the galaxies, the most luminous in the universe.

The galaxies shine with light equivalent to 10 trillion suns but are too far away and too drenched in cosmic dust to be seen – until now.

“We are seeing galaxies that are essentially invisible,” said Dan Weedman of Cornell University, New York.

By studying these galaxies, we’ll get a better idea of our own galaxy’s history,” said lead author James Houck, also of Cornell.

The Spitzer infrared telescope is on a £350m (€509.6m) space mission and was launched in August 2003.

“Past infrared missions hinted at the presence of similarly dusty galaxies over 20 years ago, but those galaxies were closer. We had to wait for Spitzer to peer far enough into the distant universe to find these,” said Weedman.