HFLS3 is the name for a distant galaxy at z = 6.34 (i.e. 12.8 billion light-years), originating about 880 million years after the Big Bang.[2] Its discovery was announced on 18 April 2013 as an exceptional starburst galaxy producing nearly 3,000 solar masses of stars a year.[2] It was found using the far-infrared-capable Herschel Space Telescope.[2] The galaxy was estimated to have 35 billion stars.[3] It is 10–30 times the mass of other known galaxies at such an early time in the universe.
HFLS3 was subjected to a follow-up campaign by other telescopes due to its high redness. It was found in the HerMES campaign, which also found other very red sources.[4]
