Researchers have created a high-definition image of a cosmic filament, a massive network of matter that underlies the universe’s structure. The filament connects two galaxies dating back 2 billion years and showcases how hidden parts of the universe shape our visible world.
For the first time, scientists were able to directly measure the boundary between gas in galaxies and material within the cosmic web. This discovery sheds light on the early universe’s matter distribution, which was uniform before drifting into denser regions.
The image was captured using the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. Data collection took hundreds of hours, revealing a detailed view of the filament’s morphology and density predictions from leading dark matter models.
The cosmic web encompasses everything from galaxy shapes to mass distribution across the universe. Dark matter, making up 27% of the universe, plays a crucial role but is only indirectly observable through gravitational interactions with ordinary matter.
Future missions like Euclid Space Telescope will further decode dark matter’s mysteries and assemble an atlas of the cosmos – the largest-ever 3D map of our universe. As more detailed images emerge, the public will benefit from a deeper understanding of the cosmos, allowing space enthusiasts to explore the universe in greater detail.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/wicked-high-definition-image-of-the-cosmic-web-shows-the-universes-dark-matter-scaffolding-2000563536