dark matter

It does not emit detectable light like ordinary stars. This topic is part of Astronomy within Science & Nature. This page currently draws on 12 supporting questions, with answers and bonus facts available below.

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dark matter trivia questions

Dark matter is inferred mainly from its gravitational effects on what?

Answer: Visible matter

Bonus fact: It does not emit detectable light like ordinary stars.

Dark matter appears to make up more mass in galaxies than what?

Answer: Visible matter

Bonus fact: Galaxy rotation and lensing indicate large unseen mass.

Which observation in galaxy clusters provides strong evidence for dark matter through bending of light?

Answer: Gravitational lensing

Bonus fact: Mass bends spacetime and distorts background images.

Why are Einstein rings useful to astronomers?

Answer: They help measure the mass of foreground galaxies or clusters

Bonus fact: The geometry of the lensing distortion depends on the distribution of mass, including dark matter.

The Coma Cluster is a large collection of what?

Answer: Galaxies

Bonus fact: The cluster contains thousands of galaxies and helped reveal evidence for dark matter.

The Coma Cluster lies in which constellation?

Answer: Coma Berenices

Bonus fact: The cluster contains thousands of galaxies and helped reveal evidence for dark matter.

Study of the Coma Cluster helped provide early evidence for what?

Answer: Dark matter

Bonus fact: The cluster contains thousands of galaxies and helped reveal evidence for dark matter.

Many dwarf galaxies near the Milky Way are what?

Answer: Satellite galaxies

Bonus fact: Many dwarf galaxies contain very little visible matter compared with the amount of dark matter inferred from their motions.

Why has supersymmetry attracted interest in particle physics?

Answer: It could help address the hierarchy problem and provide dark-matter candidates

Bonus fact: No supersymmetric partner particle has yet been confirmed experimentally.

What forms the filament-like structure of the cosmic web?

Answer: Galaxies and dark matter

Bonus fact: Galaxy clusters lie along filaments surrounding vast cosmic voids.

What invisible component largely shapes the cosmic web gravitationally?

Answer: Dark matter

Bonus fact: Galaxy clusters lie along filaments surrounding vast cosmic voids.

What is one reason dwarf galaxies matter to cosmology?

Answer: They test models of galaxy formation and dark matter

Bonus fact: The Milky Way is surrounded by many dwarf satellite galaxies.

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