Mystery of Galaxy’s Missing Dark Matter Deepens

When astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope uncovered an oddball galaxy that looks like it doesn’t have much dark matter, some thought the finding was hard to believe and looked for a simpler explanation.

Dark matter, after all, is the invisible glue that makes up the bulk of the universe’s contents. All galaxies are dominated by it; in fact, galaxies are thought to form inside immense halos of dark matter.

So, finding a galaxy lacking the invisible stuff is an extraordinary claim that challenges conventional wisdom. It would have the potential to upset theories of galaxy formation and evolution.

For more information, visit https://nasa.gov/hubble.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Paul Morris: Lead Producer
Andrea Gianopoulos: Science Writer
Tracy Vogel: Science Writer

Additional Visualizations:
Galaxy Motion Simulation: Credit: ESO/L. Calçada.
Dark Matter Simulation: Credit: Wu, Hahn, Wechsler, Abel(KIPAC), Visualization: Kaehler (KIPAC)

Music Credits:
"Aphelion Horizon" by Alistair Hetherington [PRS] via Atmosphere Music Ltd. [PRS], and Universal Production Music.

This video can be shared and downloaded at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13872 ​. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, individual imagery provided by ESO and KIPAC are obtained through permission. Their own media guidelines must be adhered to in their use. For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/guidelines/index.html.

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