Stars born in galactic wilderness

[Rick]

Baby stars have been discovered spawning in the otherwise barren outskirts of a galaxy.

The finding has surprised astronomers because the galactic periphery was assumed to lack high concentrations of ingredients needed to form stars.

The stars can be seen in a new image of the Southern Pinwheel galaxy, or M83, obtained by a Nasa space telescope and a ground-based observatory.

They are forming more than 100,000 light-years from M83's bustling centre.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7351516.stm