Astronomy Dossier

The furthest reaches of the universe

Astronomers at Leiden University conduct pioneering research. They discover new planets and galaxies and study the furthest reaches of the universe. They still have a long way to go.


Articles

Black holes hinder development of galaxies

Galaxies grow because their gravity attracts fresh gas from outside. In order to understand this process, astronomer Freeke van de Voort took to the computer and simulated it. She discovered that black holes cause a significant decrease in the fresh gas that is swallowed. PhD defence 28 March.


Rare astronomical discovery: an ancient metropolis in the distant universe

An international team of astronomers has found a substantial cluster of mature red galaxies in the early universe. The cluster is located 10.5 billion light-years from the earth, and is  the most distant ever to be observed. This concentration of galaxies offers a glimpse of one of the most densely populated areas in the early universe. The results will shortly be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters.