Feb 19 • 09:44 UTC 🇬🇷 Greece Naftemporiki

Hubble has found the 'dark galaxies' of the Universe (video)

The Hubble Space Telescope has identified a rare type of faint galaxy, dominated by dark matter, known as the 'dark galaxies' of the Universe.

In the vast network of the Universe, while most galaxies shine brightly in cosmic space and time, a rare category of galaxies remains nearly invisible — the low surface brightness galaxies, which are dominated by dark matter and feature only a sparse distribution of faint stars. The Hubble Space Telescope has successfully detected such 'dark galaxies'. One particularly elusive object, called CDG-2, may be among the most dark matter-dominated galaxies discovered so far. Dark matter is an invisible form of matter that neither reflects, emits, nor absorbs light. The scientific study presenting this finding was published in 'The Astrophysical Journal Letters'.

Identifying such faint galaxies is extremely challenging. Employing advanced techniques, a research team led by David Lee from the University of Toronto confirmed the existence of ten low surface brightness galaxies. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution but also challenge existing models that describe the distribution of matter in the Universe. The detection of dark galaxies like CDG-2 provides insights into the role of dark matter in cosmic structures, opening new avenues for research in astrophysics.

Furthermore, the significance of these discoveries extends beyond mere astronomical interest; they have profound implications for our understanding of the Universe's composition. Insights into dark galaxies could help uncover the nature of dark matter, which makes up about 27% of the Universe. Such studies may eventually lead to breakthroughs in our awareness of cosmic evolution and the fundamental forces that govern it, emphasizing the Hubble Space Telescope's critical role in contemporary astronomy.

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