Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dark Matter 'Beach Ball' Unveiled

Image: The trail of matter left by an orbiting galaxy hints at the dark matter's shape

From The BBC:

The giant halo of dark matter that surrounds our galaxy is shaped like a flattened beach ball, researchers say.

It is the first definitive measure of the scope of the dark matter that makes up the majority of galaxies' masses.

The shape of this "dark matter halo" was inferred from the path of debris left behind as the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy slowly orbits the Milky Way.

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