I see so much fine reporting–and writing–here that I don’t feel competent to try any of that type of stuff. So, I’ll just post some art and entertainment for everyone–once in a while–and read all I can. They say you should write about what you know, so a little cosmology for those who are interested (and pretty pictures for the rest of us). |
Hubble Deep Field |
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The Hubble took a picture of the same spot for 10 consecutive days so astronomers could create this image. This picture is of the newly born galaxies as they were about 12 billion years ago.
(This really doesn’t have anything to do with dark matter–but I like the picture)
Scientists first postulated some form of Dark Matter to explain the odd fact that stars far away from the center of a galaxy move at speeds about the same as the stars nearer the center–which means that there is a source of gravity that we can’t see. After many years of looking for evidence most astronomers think that the extra mass is from an, as yet, undiscovered particle which doesn’t interact with ordinary matter (us), or light.
Hot gas clouds colliding, striping away the dark matter |
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This picture shows how two clouds of hot gas (red) have collided. The dark matter associated with these clouds is–for some reason not yet know–being separated from the gas. They found the position of the dark matter (blue) by calculating how much the mass of the cluster distorts light emitted by more distant galaxies.
| Evolution of the Distribution of Visible Matter and Dark Matter |
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Dark matter is normally associated with ordinary matter. It’s found in galaxies and groups of galaxies
(and Black Holes?).
Ring of Dark Matter |
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Astronomers have found this ring of dark matter without apparent visible matter associated with it. This ring of dark matter extends about 5 million light years across. Gravitationally magnified faint galaxies far in the distance behind a massive cluster of galaxies (mostly faint blue) reveal its presence.
Gravitational Lensing |
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This shows the lensing effect of the gravity of a cluster of galaxies causing the light from distant galaxies to bend. The amount of bending shows that dark matter must be present in the cluster.
Well, that’s all for this Sunday. I hope all of you had a good weekend–and you enjoy this.
Keep up the good work!
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In college I put together a small comic book called Dark Matter. Scientists had just started talking about Dark Matter and I liked the phrase. It was the first time I realized I could use my art for political purposes.
There was a Jesus vs The Holy Ghost Smack Down, sponsored by Budweiser of course. And a few other off the wall things.
it helps me put things in perspective.
‘Nuff said….
they make me smile and they dwarf the dark matter here on home planet earth
thanks Boise Lib
its very enticing to see a slice of history like that….and imagine just tweaking one little thing…. mwahahahahaha (and i usually dont ‘do’ the evil laugh thing…)
I was out looking for dark matter the other day for Dispatches From the Abyss
in Idaho.
Thank you for absolute proof of the reverse.
Best, Terry