Starburst galaxies are galaxies where high rates of star formation has occurred very quickly. Hence these luminous galaxies are called starburst galaxies, and they are indeed lit up in short bursts of star forming activity.

New stars are being formed every year in the Milky Way.

Astronomers know that starburst galaxies are often involved in mergers that mingle stars and gas.

Seen here in incredible detail, thanks to the NASA /ESA Hubble Space Telescope, is the starburst galaxy formally known as PLCK G045.1+61.1. NASA said: "Seen here in incredible detail, thanks to the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, is the starburst galaxy formally known as PLCK G045.1+61.1. The galaxy appears as multiple reddish dots near the center of the image and is being gravitationally lensed by a cluster of closer galaxies that are also visible in this image. Starburst galaxies are galaxies that are observed to be forming stars at an unusually fast rate (about 10 3 times greater than in a normal galaxy). Shock waves push the gas, which sets off the starburst activity.

During these bursts, the star formation rate per unit area can be 10s or 100s of times greater than the star formation rate in normal spiral galaxies. There are many galaxies of this kind all throughout the universe and star formations at this high rate alters the structure of the host galaxy because of the …

A starburst galaxy refers to a galaxy that is undergoing a process of an incredibly high rate of star formation. A starburst galaxy is a galaxy which is experiencing a brief (10 7 -10 8 year) burst of intense star formating activity. All galaxies are going through some rate of star formation. Nearly all types of galaxies can undergo starburst events if conditions are right.