Astronomers unveil largest-ever dark matter map
Posted: Tue, Jan 10, 2012, 9:35 AM ET (1435 GMT)
Astronomers released on Monday the largest map yet compiled of dark matter in the universe, matching previous predictions of its distribution. The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) examined several regions of the sky, measuring light from distant galaxies warped by gravitational lensing caused by the presence of otherwise undetectable dark matter. The maps of dark matter distribution created from those observations show that dark matter is aligned in an intricate web of filaments that closely matches theoretical predictions, and that the presence of large clumps of dark matter is closely correlated with galaxy clusters. Astronomers said that the new findings still left unresolved the issue of the composition of dark matter, which is far more prevalent in the universe than ordinary matter.
Astronomers released on Monday the largest map yet compiled of dark matter in the universe, matching previous predictions of its distribution. The Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS) examined several regions of the sky, measuring light from distant galaxies warped by gravitational lensing caused by the presence of otherwise undetectable dark matter. The maps of dark matter distribution created from those observations show that dark matter is aligned in an intricate web of filaments that closely matches theoretical predictions, and that the presence of large clumps of dark matter is closely correlated with galaxy clusters. Astronomers said that the new findings still left unresolved the issue of the composition of dark matter, which is far more prevalent in the universe than ordinary matter.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 21
European aerospace groups reach framework deal on satellite merger, sources say
Reuters — 7:07 am ET (1107 GMT) Northrop raises annual profit forecast on strong demand
Reuters — 7:06 am ET (1106 GMT) Elon Musk now controls two thirds of satellites as 10,000th Starlink launches
The Independent — 7:05 am ET (1105 GMT) Muon Space to Integrate SpaceX's Starlink Mini Space Lasers Into Its Halo Satellite Platform
PR Newswire — 7:05 am ET (1105 GMT) Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch, Sixth Mission for Constellation Operator iQPS
Rocket Lab — 7:04 am ET (1104 GMT) |
