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Runaway stars may create the mysterious ultraviolet glow around some galaxies

The bright, young stars are located in regions where gas is too tenuous for new stars to form

M83 galaxy

M83, a barred spiral galaxy located 15 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hydra, emits ultraviolet light well beyond its visible disk of stars (seen here), in places where the hot young stars that produce such radiation shouldn’t form.

NASA/ESO/VLT/Science Source

By Ken Croswell

- More than 2 years ago

Hot blue stars kicked out of their cradles may explain a mysterious ultraviolet glow that surrounds the disks of many spiral galaxies.