Our eyes see just a glimpse of what the world offers

How's your vision? Do you think it's perfect? Well, even with perfect eyes, you are nearly blind.

What you see is just a teensy slice of what is really out there in the world. That's because our eyes can see only visible light. There are many other kinds of light.

Some of the invisible kinds of light are x-rays, ultraviolet light, infrared light and radio waves. We are so fortunate to have modern telescopes enabling us to "see" in all these kinds of light. Pictures from these telescopes show us a whole new universe.

One particular telescope, the Galaxy Evolution Explorer, orbits high above Earth in space. It sees the universe in ultraviolet light. This telescope has revealed that many galaxies (huge groupings of stars) are more than three times bigger than they look in visible light!

These galaxies have huge spiral arms that stretch way beyond the visible edges of the galaxies.

What is in these glowing ultraviolet spiral arms? And why don't they show up in ordinary light? The arms are made mostly of young stars. They are so hot they barely put out any "cooler" visible light. Instead, they glow in the more energetic ultraviolet light.

So the Galaxy Evolution Explorer is a great telescope for studying where and how new stars are born. But why are new stars forming way out there in the far reaches of the galaxy? That is still a mystery.

Astronomers can only guess right now. But they are excited to see what other surprises this galactic explorer will bring as it surveys the farthest reaches of the universe.

Find out more about ultraviolet light and what we can learn from it. Watch the cartoon talk show, Space Place Live!, guest starring Dr. Chris Martin, the top scientist on the Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission. Go to spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/live/#martin.