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These Dots Represent More Than 1,000 Galaxies: New Infrared Image Reveals Glory of God in Outer Space

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A new image released by the European Space Agency (ESA) reveals more than 1,000 points of light that are actually individual galaxies. 

The infrared image was taken by the ESA's Herschel Space Observatory's Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE).

The image shows the North Galactic Pole, covering 180 square degrees of the sky. 

Astronomers say each point of light in the image represents a galaxy.  A galaxy is an enormous array of stars, interstellar gas, and dust.  For example, our galaxy is known as The Milky Way.  Scientists believe it includes more than 100 billion stars.  

Images like this one reaffirm the Psalmist's declaration who wrote in the Bible's Old Testament: 

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." -

According to the website Answers in Genesis, the Bible indicates that the universe has stretched out or expanded.  

tells us that God stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.  The verse also suggests the universe has increased in size since God created it and he is causing it to expand. 

"He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." -  Psalms 147:4

According to Gizmodo.com, images like this one allow astronomers to estimate the total number of galaxies across the entire observable universe.  A few years ago, astronomers came to the realization that the universe contains up to 10 to 20 times more galaxies than previously thought.

The star-gazing scientists' best guess is the universe contains somewhere between one and two trillion galaxies.  This means the universe is literally overflowing with stars, somewhere around the number of 700 sextillion stars -- the number seven followed by 23 zeros. 

And that's just the estimated number of stars in the observable universe.  There could also be trillions more that we cannot see with our current technology.  

 "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" - - 4. 

The powerful Hillsong Worship song BELOW talks about how God's awesome power is seen in Creation, declaring: "As You speak, a hundred billion galaxies are born, in the vapor of Your breath the planets form, if the stars were made to worship so will I."

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About The Author

Steve Warren is a senior multimedia producer for CBN News. Warren has worked in the news departments of television stations and cable networks across the country. In addition, he also worked as a producer-director in television production and on-air promotion. A Civil War historian, he authored the book The Second Battle of Cabin Creek: Brilliant Victory. It was the companion book to the television documentary titled Last Raid at Cabin Creek currently streaming on Amazon Prime. He holds an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Communication from the University of