The place of a newly discovered dwarf galaxy (Virgo III) within the constellation Virgo (left) and its member stars (proper; these circled in white). The member stars are concentrated contained in the dashed line in the best panel. Credit score: NAOJ/Tohoku College
For years, astronomers have frightened about easy methods to clarify why the Milky Manner has fewer satellite tv for pc galaxies than the usual darkish matter mannequin predicts. That is known as the “lacking satellites drawback.”
With a purpose to convey us nearer to fixing this drawback, a global group of researchers used knowledge from the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Subaru Strategic Program (SSP) to find two fully new satellite tv for pc galaxies.
These outcomes have been revealed within the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan on June 8, 2024 by a group of researchers from Japan, Taiwan, and America.
We dwell in a galaxy known as The Milky Manner, which has different, smaller galaxies orbiting it known as satellite tv for pc galaxies. Finding out these satellite tv for pc galaxies may also help researchers unravel mysteries surrounding darkish matter, and higher perceive how galaxies evolve over time.
The world noticed by the HSC-SSP (space surrounded by pink traces). Beforehand recognized satellite tv for pc galaxies are indicated by black squares, and newly found satellite tv for pc galaxies are indicated by white triangles and stars. Credit score: NAOJ/Tohoku College
“What number of satellite tv for pc galaxies does the Milky Manner have? This has been an necessary query for astronomers for many years,” remarks Masahi Chiba, a professor at Tohoku College.
The analysis group acknowledged the likelihood that there are probably many undiscovered, small satellite tv for pc galaxies (dwarf galaxies) that are far-off and tough to detect. The highly effective skill of the Subaru telescope—which sits atop an remoted mountain above the clouds in Hawaii—is well-suited to search out these galaxies. Actually, this analysis group beforehand discovered three new dwarf galaxies utilizing the Subaru telescope.
Now, the group has found a further two new dwarf galaxies (Virgo III and Sextans II). With this discovery, a complete of 9 satellite tv for pc galaxies have been discovered by totally different analysis groups. That is nonetheless a lot fewer than the 220 satellite tv for pc galaxies predicted by the usual concept of darkish matter.
Satellite tv for pc galaxies across the Milky Manner Galaxy. The aircraft of the Galactic disk is on the horizontal aircraft. The blue squares are the Massive and Small Magellanic Clouds, and the pink circles are different satellite tv for pc galaxies. The fainter their absolute visible magnitude, the smaller the dot measurement. Credit score: NAOJ/Tohoku College
Nevertheless, the footprint of the HSC-SSP doesn’t cowl your complete Milky Manner. If the distribution of these 9 satellite tv for pc galaxies throughout your complete Milky Manner is much like what was discovered within the footprint captured by the HSC-SSP, the analysis group calculates that there really could also be nearer to 500 satellite tv for pc galaxies. Now, we’re confronted with a “too many satellites drawback,” somewhat than a “lacking satellites drawback.”
To higher characterize the precise quantity of satellite tv for pc galaxies, extra high-resolution imaging and evaluation is required. “The following step is to make use of a extra highly effective telescope that captures a wider view of the sky,” explains Chiba. “Subsequent yr, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile will probably be used to meet that goal. I hope that many new satellite tv for pc galaxies will probably be found.”
Extra info:
Daisuke Homma et al, Remaining outcomes of the seek for new Milky Manner satellites within the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program survey: Discovery of two extra candidates, Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan (2024). DOI: 10.1093/pasj/psae044
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Astronomers uncover two new Milky Manner satellite tv for pc galaxy candidates (2024, June 28)
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