Science in a Minute 020720 Astronomers Discover an Ancient and Unique Galaxy

A team of astronomers discovered a massive ancient galaxy that produced about 1,000 stars a year at its peak. The Milky Way produces about only one star each year. According to the astronomers, the galaxy, called XMM-2599, started generating large numbers of stars when the universe was only 1 billion years old. 800 million later the galaxy suddenly became inactive and, so far, hasn’t produced any stars since.