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The Milky Way makes little galaxies bloom, then snuffs them out

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies light up with newborn stars when first approaching our galaxy

Leo I galaxy

Leo I, the ghostly galaxy below the bright blue star Regulus, glittered with newborn stars while entering the Milky Way’s domain 2 billion years ago. The little galaxy is 880,000 light-years from Earth.

Chris Cook/Science Source

By Ken Croswell

- More than 2 years ago

If you’re a small galaxy and want to mint new stars, come to the Milky Way — but don’t get too close if you want a long-lasting star-making career.