Spectra of some of the most distant galaxies known

Spectra of ten of the most distant galaxies, all with confirmed redshifts. Each galaxy spectrum displays a sharp peak in colour showing the signature of its hydrogen gas - this is the redshifted Lyman-alpha emission line. The bright Lyman-alpha emission line is indicated in each of the spectra along with the redshift. The strong "break" seen in each spectrum over the region of Lyman-alpha emission is the reason why these objects are not visible in the R-band (central wavelength at 650 nm); there is simply no light visible on the short-wavelength (blue) side of the Lyman-emission alpha emission line.