Posted on 04/12/2017 11:53:27 AM PDT by Red Badger
Dark matter filaments bridge the space between galaxies in this false colour map. The locations of bright galaxies are shown by the white regions and the presence of a dark matter filament bridging the galaxies is shown in red. Credit: S. Epps & M. Hudson / University of Waterloo
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Researchers at the University of Waterloo have been able to capture the first composite image of a dark matter bridge that connects galaxies together. The scientists publish their work in a new paper in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The composite image, which combines a number of individual images, confirms predictions that galaxies across the universe are tied together through a cosmic web connected by dark matter that has until now remained unobservable.
Dark matter, a mysterious substance that comprises around 25 per cent of the universe, doesn't shine, absorb or reflect light, which has traditionally made it largely undetectable, except through gravity.
"For decades, researchers have been predicting the existence of dark-matter filaments between galaxies that act like a web-like superstructure connecting galaxies together," said Mike Hudson, a professor of astronomy at the University of Waterloo. "This image moves us beyond predictions to something we can see and measure."
As part of their research, Hudson and co-author Seth Epps, a master's student at the University of Waterloo at the time, used a technique called weak gravitational lensing, an effect that causes the images of distant galaxies to warp slightly under the influence of an unseen mass such as a planet, a black hole, or in this case, dark matter. The effect was measured in images from a multi-year sky survey at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.
They combined lensing images from more than 23,000 galaxy pairs located 4.5 billion light-years away to create a composite image or map that shows the presence of dark matter between the two galaxies. Results show the dark matter filament bridge is strongest between systems less than 40 million light years apart.
"By using this technique, we're not only able to see that these dark matter filaments in the universe exist, we're able to see the extent to which these filaments connect galaxies together," said Epps.
Explore further: Team puts dark matter on the map
More information: Seth D. Epps et al. The weak-lensing masses of filaments between luminous red galaxies, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2017). DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx517
Journal reference: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-04-capture-image-dark-web-galaxies.html#jCp
is this just another modeling hoax like global warming.
t
On a more serious note: The outpouring of ignorant arrogance and jealousy from many on this thread is appalling.
the science is settled on that for sure.
I did NOT say that.
and if not that then a Trisolarian illusion.
Everyone has a right to be wrong...
They used gravitational lensing of light sources “behind” the two galaxies to determine where the dark matter is.
Dark matter has gravity, too, because it is matter.
They compared the degree of lensing caused by the two galaxies against the lensing caused by the dark matter, and they drew a map.
Seems pretty straight forward to me.
Gathering the data also seems like a significant technical achievement to me, too.
Amazing and yet it could all be nonsense and I wouldn’t know the difference. That’s why I popped in to see what smarter FReepers think.
that’s what I thought
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