The discovery of a tiny galaxy about 3.8 million light years away is shining a new light on the the formation of infant galaxies. This relatively small galaxy is unique in its composition because of the absence of planet forming qualities. Leo P is a “cloudy” galaxy in it’s composition, with little in way of planet and star formation, astronomers are jumping at the opportunity to see what the universe was like minutes after the big bang.
The Big Bang is the theoretical event of which created the first hydrogen and helium atoms. These elements are then used as fuel for stars and are eventually formed into heavier elements in the process. See The Secrets of the Stars for more information on how stars convert hydrogen into the other elements.
In the first few minutes after the big bang, the universe was filled with hydrogen and helium and everything would have looked like a big milky mess. This is exactly what Leo P looks like to astronomers, a big milky mess. With little planetary formation, hydrogen and helium are abundant and stagnant.
What can we learn from this?
Leo P is in pristine form and has stayed uncomplicated for a short amount of time (in comparison to other galaxies). Leo P. is to have an estimated lifespan in the hundreds of millions of years, whereas the Milky Way (our own galaxy) has a life-span that last hundreds of billions of years. Leo P is also unique for the fact that it is relatively untouched by other, larger galaxies.
Galaxies have a tendency to interact with each other. Larger galaxies tend to suck much of the lighter gas from smaller galaxy formations, thus leaving them bare and absent of the hydrogen needed to develop solar systems and fuel stars. The ability to look at Leo P, knowing the pristine quality of its existence, is an experience most astronomers are jumping at.
No chance we will ever visit the galaxy for ourselves, but even from a distance astronomers are gawking at the opportunity to study this unique system.