Segue 1 dark matter galaxy mystifies astronomers
Segue 1 is a compasnion galaxy to our own whose mass is all but invisible – and the likely explanation is that it is made of dark matter.
I like it when stuff appears like this – something was right outside our door, we did not notice it, and when we did, find it is stranger than anything we expected.
Segue 1 fark matter dominated galaxy!
Dark matter is that mystifying substance which no one has touched or seen, no one even knows for sure exactly what its composition is. Some scientists even hypothesise that dark matter does not exist.
We don’t know the truth, of course. But now suddenly we have discovered a companion galaxy to our own which has only 24 identifiable stars, but is so massive that it has to be dark matter that is making up all that extra mass.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce Segue 1, the mysterious dark matter galaxy!
And like a good speaker, I introduce it and back off. The guys who are really good at stuff like this will take over from here on.
Following are links to articles I have discovered on the Net about the Segue 1. Feel free to research all you want, and post any good info in the comments.
Astronomers Find a Galaxy Stuffed With Dark Matter
Just beyond the Milky Way, astronomers have found an extremely dim dwarf galaxy that appears to have just a few hundred stars, but is surprisingly massive. Researchers say the galaxy, called Segue 1, must be packed with mysterious dark matter in order to give it such bulk.
Astronomers Discover Most Dark Matter-Dominated Galaxy in Universe
The galaxy, called Segue 1, is one of about two dozen small satellite galaxies orbiting our own Milky Way galaxy. The ultra-faint galaxy is a billion times less bright than the Milky Way, according to the team’s results, to be published in an upcoming issue of The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ).
Dark matter and dwarf galaxy Segue 1
Discussion about SEgue 1
Astronomers Discover Most Dark Matter-Dominated Galaxy in Universe
Segue 1 is 50 times dimmer than the star cluster pictured above but is 1000 times more massive, meaning most of its mass must be made up of dark matter.
Astronomers discover most dark matter-dominated galaxy in universe
“Segue 1 is the most extreme example of a galaxy that contains only a few hundred stars, yet has a relatively large mass.”
Nearby Galaxy Nearly Invisible
Astronomers have identified the least luminous galaxy known, but it’s surprisingly massive. The reason: It is loaded with invisible matter. Dark matter is mysterious, unseen stuff that permeates the universe. Astronomers know it’s there because of the gravity it creates. Without invoking dark matter, theories can’t explain how galaxies stay together.
Companion Dwarf Galaxy Almost Invisible
Finding ultra-faint galaxies like Segue 1, which is so rife with dark matter, provides clues as to how galaxies form and evolve, especially at the smallest scales.
Astronomers find universe’s dimmest known galaxy
Astronomers have identified what appears to be the dimmest galaxy in the universe. Although it shines with the brightness of only a few hundred Suns, it seems to be full of dark matter, making it an ideal candidate to search for evidence of the mysterious material, they say.
Massive, dim galaxy perplexes scientists
Dark Matter’s Galactic Implications
Segue 1 is one of the tiny satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way whose dark matter component has caused great astronomical interest. As we saw in this post a couple of weeks ago, these ultra-faint objects have been turning up in Sloan Digital Sky Survey data, surprising astronomers by their mass, which indicates they’re dominated by dark matter.
If you are into stuff like dark matter and all, here is something for you. A dark matter bridge that connects a pile of galaxies! Think some unimaginable intelligence created it? This is so sci-fi!
Dark matter ‘bridge to nowhere’ found in cosmic void
Astronomers have found a total of 14 galaxies that appear to be part of a dark matter bridge at least 1.5 million light years long.