GALEX

GALEX was a NASA ultraviolet space telescope launched in 2003 that surveyed galaxies to study their formation and evolution. It mapped the sky in far- and near-ultraviolet light.

Ultraviolet astronomy: Ultraviolet astronomy studies celestial objects through electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light. GALEX extended astronomical surveys into ultraviolet wavelengths largely blocked by Earth's atmosphere.
Star formation: Star formation is the process by which dense regions of interstellar gas and dust collapse into stars. Ultraviolet light from young massive stars let GALEX estimate recent star formation in galaxies.
NASA Explorer program: NASA's Explorer program develops relatively focused space-science missions, often through competitive selections. GALEX was selected as a Small Explorer mission within this program.
Comet Holmes: Comet Holmes is a periodic comet that underwent a dramatic outburst in 2007, producing a vast expanding cloud of dust. GALEX observations detected ultraviolet emission from the comet's expanding gas and dust.
Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission archive: The Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission archive contains calibrated data products and observations from GALEX. Its public release made the mission's ultraviolet survey available for later studies.
Far ultraviolet: Far ultraviolet radiation occupies wavelengths shorter than near ultraviolet and longer than extreme ultraviolet. GALEX's far-ultraviolet channel traced young, hot stars across nearby and distant galaxies.
Galaxy evolution: Galaxy evolution is the change in a galaxy's structure, composition, and activity over cosmic time. GALEX surveys tracked how ultraviolet activity varies with galaxy age and environment.
Christopher Martin: Christopher Martin is an American astrophysicist who led the GALEX mission as principal investigator. His leadership at Caltech shaped GALEX's ultraviolet survey design and science goals.
M83: M83 is a nearby grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Hydra. GALEX's ultraviolet imagery revealed extensive star formation beyond M83's bright optical disk.
NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database: The NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database is a multiwavelength catalog and data service for objects beyond the Milky Way. Its records connect GALEX ultraviolet measurements with observations from other missions.

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