Observations with European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope have enabled an international group of astronomers to study in unprecedented detail the surroundings of a very remote galaxy, almost 12 billion light-years away. The corresponding light travel time means that it is seen by earth observers at a moment only about 3 billion years after the Big Bang.
The galaxy being studied is the brightest known from such an early time.
The ability to study such a distant galaxy is due to a bit of luck. Along the line of sight lies a section of dense galaxies which act as a magnifying glass. Because of the gravitational \magnifying glass"" these galaxies create, the images appear 50 times brighter than would normally be possible.
Also along the line of sight, astronomers found gases, some quite close to the studied galaxy. With this information, researchers can see what type of matter is in and around the galaxy.
The materials found indicate one of the oldest super clusters of galaxies ever studied.
