When did the first stars form after the big bang?

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Examine the observable universe's place within the whole universe — Cosmology Learn about defining and measuring the observable universe within the “whole” universe.

The first stars in the universe formed a few hundred million years after the big bang, which occurred approximately 13.8 billion years ago.1

Following the initial expansion and cooling of the universe, conditions became suitable for the formation of atoms. These atoms subsequently clumped together under the influence of gravity, leading to the emergence of the first stars and galaxies. These hypothetical early objects, often referred to as Population III stars, are thought to have formed from interstellar gas clouds that existed shortly after the big bang.12