(BIVN) – On February 12, the W.M. Keck Observatory presented another free astronomy talk at the Gates Performing Arts Center in Waimea, this time featuring UCLA Professor of Astronomy Matt Malkan – and the “time machines” used to peer deep into the universe.

From the event materials:

Shortly after the Big Bang, our universe has been measured to have been almost amazingly uniform. Fortunately for our existence, it didn’t stay that way long. The excess gravity of slightly over-dense regions slowed their expansion and eventually caused them to collapse into the first galaxies, forming the first generation of stars and, presumably, planets. Studying this process was the prime motivation for building the Keck telescopes, which are now showing us the birth and infancy of galaxies. Growing up in their natural habitats, these young galaxies are lighting up the universe, forming stars, merging together, and building up the heavy elements that are essential for life.

Malkan presented video animations that illustrated the formation of galaxies and talked about recent breakthroughs in the field of study. He also talked about how the planned Thirty Meter Telescope will assist in answering some of the lingering questions about the early universe.