Vera Rubin, affectionately known as the “Mother of Dark Matter,” earned her nickname through groundbreaking research on the elusive substance that makes up a significant portion of the universe.
According to a post on Hubble, one galaxy in particular became synonymous with Rubin’s pioneering work, earning it the nickname “Rubin’s Galaxy”.
The designation arose from Rubin’s intensive investigations of the galaxy, inspired by his quest to uncover the mysteries of dark matter, the invisible scaffolding on which our universe is structured.
In a post on Because they studied it in their search for dark matter, which is like the invisible scaffolding of our universe.”
According to a release, Rubin measured the galaxy’s rotation, providing evidence for dark matter, which makes up most of the galaxy’s mass as measured by the rotation rate. “We consider it a memorial image. This goal of quoting Dr. Rubin in our observation was very much part of our original Hubble proposal,” said B. Holwerda of the University of Louisville.
Presenting the findings at the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Honolulu, Hawaii, Holwerda aims to uncover the mystery behind the galaxy’s extraordinary shape.
Expressing his curiosity, he commented, “How it got so big, we don’t yet know.” He further explained that the dimensions of the galaxy are remarkable, being as large as possible for a disk galaxy without encountering other celestial bodies in space. ,
NASA’s upcoming James Webb Space Telescope promises to travel to the center of this galaxy and discover its globular cluster population. Additionally, NASA’s planned Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is set to conduct a comprehensive census of the galaxy’s cluster population, especially within its broad halo.
Holwerda stressed the importance of the infrared capabilities of both telescopes, which offer a clear view of the underlying stellar population. This complements the Hubble Space Telescope’s ability to track microscopic star formation across the Milky Way in visible light.
The foreground stars of our galaxy are visible in the image, recognizable by their diffraction spikes. Despite the presence of a bright star above the galaxy’s disk, it is important to note that UGC 2885 is 232 million light years away.
“In the northern constellation Perseus, this massive galaxy continues to fascinate astronomers with its awe-inspiring scale and structure,” the release said.
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Published: May 13, 2024, 08:21 am IST
