New Evidence for Dark Matter Around Small Galaxies
These four dwarf galaxies are part of a census of small galaxies in the tumultuous heart of the nearby Perseus galaxy cluster. The galaxies appear smooth and symmetrical, suggesting that they have not been tidally disrupted by the pull of gravity in the dense cluster environment. Larger galaxies around them, however, are being ripped apart by the gravitational tug of other galaxies.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a strong new line of evidence that galaxies are embedded in halos of dark matter.
Peering into the tumultuous heart of the nearby Perseus galaxy cluster, Hubble discovered a large population of small galaxies that have remained intact while larger galaxies around them are being ripped apart by the gravitational tug of other galaxies.
The Hubble images provide further evidence that the undisturbed galaxies are enshrouded by a “cushion” of dark matter that protects them from their rough-and-tumble neighbourhood.
Dark matter is an invisible form of matter that accounts for most of the Universe’s mass. Astronomers have deduced the existence of dark matter by observing its gravitational influence on normal matter, such as stars, gas and dust. (more…)
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