Astronomers have discovered three galaxies that are perfectly aligned from the viewpoint of earth. It is the first time scientists have found such an anomaly, and they hope that their unusual alignment may provide further insight into our understanding of the heavens. The galaxies are around 2 billion, 7 billion and 11 billion light years distant from earth. The light from the furthest galaxies is being distorted by the gravity of the closest galaxy, forming two concentric rings of light around the first galaxy. These rings allow astronomers to make calculations on the dark matter, which they believe makes up most of the matter in the universe. Dark matter neither creates or reflects light, and can only be detected through its gravitational force on light passing near it. Astronomers believe that the forces of dark matter and dark energy are causing the universe to expand, and are largely responsible for creating the vast superstructures of galaxies we see around us today.

Quote: ""Having three objects almost perfectly aligned along the line of sight is an extremely rare event," Tommaso Treu, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said at the press briefing. "It's more unlikely than winning two consecutive bets in a single number of roulette."

Just a few months ago I commented on another recent astronomical discovery which had been made. Astronomers have discovered that most spiral galaxies in our universe are rotating clockwise from the viewpoint of earth. To explain this bizarre phenomenon, astronomers suggested that either some unknown force is acting on these galaxies, or else the universe is lop-sided. The big bang theory suggests that the universe should be completely uniform throughout and have no edge. But this is not what we are seeing. There is a third explanation, that the Earth is somewhere near the centre of our universe and all these galaxies are rotating around us in a clockwise fashion. I believe the discovery of three galaxies perfectly aligned may not be due to the effects of dark matter, but rather is testament to a Creator God Who upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). The books of Job, Psalms and Isaiah give us further insight into the power of our God.

Job 38:31-33
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Isaiah 48:13
Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

The Lord once challenged Abraham to number the stars, and if he could, he would be able to number the descendants God had promised to give him (Genesis 15:5). Four thousand years later, man is no closer to accomplishing that feat. We are finding it difficult to even number the galaxies, which can contain up to a hundred billion stars each, let alone number the stars. And yet our God has not only numbered them, but has a name for every one (Psalm 147:4). Three thousand years ago it was written in the Bible that the Lord stretched out the heavens (Isaiah 42:5), and today men are only beginning to understand that truth. Astronomers are willing to believe in the existence of a substance which cannot be seen, yet many are unwilling to believe in a God which has revealed Himself to mankind. The God that created the heavens also created you. He came into this world two thousand years ago, and gave His life on the cross for you. Jesus Christ died for your sins, so that you might have a relationship with your Creator. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Isaiah 42:5-7
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee (Jesus Christ) in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Source National Geographic

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