Explore how galaxies formed from gas clouds after the Big Bang, evolving through mergers, starbursts, and the influence of dark matter
Galaxies began to form around 13.5 billion years ago, roughly 300 million years after the Big Bang.
Initially, galaxies formed from gas clouds collapsing under gravity, leading to star formation.
Invisible dark matter provided the gravitational "scaffolding" that allowed gas and stars to coalesce into galaxies.
Smaller galaxies merged over time to form larger ones, a process known as hierarchical clustering.
Hierarchical Growth
Mergers and interactions can trigger intense periods of star formation known as starbursts.
Galaxies can change shape over billions of years, evolving from irregular blobs to structured spirals or ellipticals.
Most large galaxies harbor supermassive black holes at their centers, influencing their dynamics and evolution.
Galaxies are not isolated; they are part of a vast cosmic web of filaments and voids, influencing their formation and interaction.
Galaxy formation is an ongoing process, with new stars and structures forming even today, contributing to the dynamic universe.