Starburst galaxies feature a large amount of cool molecular gas in a small volume.

Firstly, a starburst galaxy must have a large supply of gas available to form stars.

This is a starburst galaxy, which means it is forming new stars at a high rate.

Many are starburst galaxies, and some also contain an active galactic nucleus.

About 75,000 of those are believed to be starburst galaxies, still enduring their star-formation stage.

Studying nearby starburst galaxies can help us determine the history of galaxy formation and evolution.

Starburst galaxies undergo intense star formation that is well in excess of normal rates.

It will furthermore deliver detailed studies of nearby normal, interacting, and starburst galaxies.

Like other starburst galaxies, a collision is suspected to be responsible for the intense burst of star formation.

The quasar lies close on the sky to a disturbed, starburst galaxy (see figure, upper left).

Several definitions of the term starburst galaxy exist, and there is no strict definition on which all astronomers agree.

Galaxies undergoing such rapid star formation are known as starburst galaxies.

Starburst galaxies were more common during the early history of the Universe, and, at present, still contribute an estimated 15% to the total star production rate.

"But in a starburst galaxy, star birth and death are more like explosions in a fireworks factory."

The majority of starburst galaxies are in the midst of a merger or close encounter with another galaxy.

IC 10 is the only known starburst galaxy in the Local Group of galaxies.

Nevertheless, astronomers typically classify starburst galaxies based on the their most distinct observational characteristics.

M82 is the archetypal starburst galaxy.

Others, called starburst galaxies, have an extremely high number of newly forming stars heating interstellar dust clouds.

NGC 5253 is considered a dwarf starburst galaxy.

These are cluster members showing similarly blue colors as starburst galaxies only with moderate to strong H-delta absorption.

The galaxy has recently experienced intense star formation activity and may therefore be referred to as a starburst galaxy.

"Starburst galaxies can only be studied in detail in the nearby universe, where they are much rarer.

NGC 6240 also has an unusually high rate of star formation, classifying it as a starburst galaxy.

They show that the three "very young" starburst galaxies that were studied have magnetic fields larger than the Milky Way.