A molecular thermometer for the distant universe
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 05:28
in Astronomy & Space
Astronomers have made use of ESO`s Very Large Telescope to detect for the first time in the ultraviolet the carbon monoxide molecule in a galaxy located almost 11 billion light-years away, a feat that had remained elusive for 25 years. This detection allows them to obtain the most precise measurement of the cosmic temperature at such a remote epoch.