Concept information
Preferred term
Starburst galaxies
Definition
- A galaxy showing a short-lived intense period of star formation that is unsustainable over the Hubble time due to the limited supply of gas within a galaxy. Starburst galaxies were first classified by Searle & Sargent (1972) and Searle et al. (1973), based on the blue colors produced by the massive stars formed during the burst. In the local Universe, starbursts create approximately 10% of the radiant energy and 20% of the massive stars. At z = 1, starburst characteristics are found in 15% of galaxies, presumably attributable to the greater amounts of gas typically present in young galaxies and increased galactic interactions. The starburst's impact on a galaxy and the surrounding intergalactic medium is primarily due to the consumption of gas that fuels the burst and the feedback from massive stars formed in the burst. (en)
Broader concept
- Active galaxies (en)
- Galaxies (en)
Narrower concepts
- Infrared galaxies (en)
Entry terms
- Starburst galaxy (en)
Editorial note
URI
http://astrothesaurus.org/uat/1570
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