MIT researchers discover oldest stars in the universe
Researchers at MIT have identified what they believe to be three of the oldest stars in the universe.
They are thought to have emerged during the early stages of galaxy formation, 12 to 13 billion years ago, around the time when the first galaxies were taking shape.
Using data collected from the Magellan-Clay telescope in Chile, researchers analyzed the stars’ spectra to determine their chemical composition and age.
Researchers characterized the stars based on their low abundances of certain chemical elements, such as strontium and barium.
Located in the Milky Way’s halo — the cloud of stars surrounding the main galactic disk — the stars are referred to as SASS stars, or Small Accreted Stellar System stars.
The discovery is expected to offer significant insights into the early stages of galaxy formation and the evolution of the universe.