The Elevator Killer 752 Posted Friday at 07:19 PM https://www.newser.com/story/381548/nasa-confirms-first-known-failed-galaxy.html Astronomers say they've finally spotted something they've only talked about in theory: a "failed galaxy" made mostly of dark matter and gas, with not a single star in sight. NASA has nicknamed the object "Cloud-9," describing it as a starless, hydrogen-rich cloud dominated by dark matter about 14 million light-years away. Researchers have long suspected such structures existed—essentially dark matter clumps that never gathered enough gas to ignite stars—but this is the first confirmed example, according to NASA. The team says Cloud-9, described in Astrophysical Journal Letters, offers a fresh look at how galaxies might have formed, or fizzled, in the early universe, per CBS News. First flagged three years ago, Cloud-9 was recently scrutinized with the Hubble Space Telescope, which found no stars inside. That absence is exactly the point, says lead investigator Alejandro Benitez-Llambay of the University of Milano-Bicocca, who calls it "the tale of a failed galaxy," adding that "in science, we usually learn more from the failures than from the successes." The cloud's core is made of neutral hydrogen spanning roughly 4,900 light-years, with hydrogen alone totaling around a million times the mass of the sun. The dark matter component is far larger—about 5 billion solar masses—prompting team member Andrew Fox to describe Cloud-9 as a "window into the dark universe." Cloud-9 is one of nine gas clouds on the outskirts of the nearby spiral galaxy Messier 94, but it stands out as smaller, denser, and more spherical than its neighbors and appears physically linked to that galaxy, NASA says. Its existence suggests there may be many more small, dark-matter-heavy structures lurking unnoticed, usually drowned out by the light of nearby stars and galaxies. Astronomers plan additional surveys to hunt for similar objects and to test ideas about dark matter, galaxy formation, and the conditions of the early cosmos. As for Cloud-9 itself, NASA notes it may not be finished evolving: if it keeps accumulating gas, this failed galaxy could one day turn into a real one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 3,476 Posted Friday at 07:47 PM How do they know it failed? Maybe, it’s more the way God intended for it to be. Indeed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supermike80 2,177 Posted Friday at 07:49 PM 29 minutes ago, The Elevator Killer said: https://www.newser.com/story/381548/nasa-confirms-first-known-failed-galaxy.html Astronomers say they've finally spotted something they've only talked about in theory: a "failed galaxy" made mostly of dark matter and gas, with not a single star in sight. NASA has nicknamed the object "Cloud-9," describing it as a starless, hydrogen-rich cloud dominated by dark matter about 14 million light-years away. Researchers have long suspected such structures existed—essentially dark matter clumps that never gathered enough gas to ignite stars—but this is the first confirmed example, according to NASA. The team says Cloud-9, described in Astrophysical Journal Letters, offers a fresh look at how galaxies might have formed, or fizzled, in the early universe, per CBS News. First flagged three years ago, Cloud-9 was recently scrutinized with the Hubble Space Telescope, which found no stars inside. That absence is exactly the point, says lead investigator Alejandro Benitez-Llambay of the University of Milano-Bicocca, who calls it "the tale of a failed galaxy," adding that "in science, we usually learn more from the failures than from the successes." The cloud's core is made of neutral hydrogen spanning roughly 4,900 light-years, with hydrogen alone totaling around a million times the mass of the sun. The dark matter component is far larger—about 5 billion solar masses—prompting team member Andrew Fox to describe Cloud-9 as a "window into the dark universe." Cloud-9 is one of nine gas clouds on the outskirts of the nearby spiral galaxy Messier 94, but it stands out as smaller, denser, and more spherical than its neighbors and appears physically linked to that galaxy, NASA says. Its existence suggests there may be many more small, dark-matter-heavy structures lurking unnoticed, usually drowned out by the light of nearby stars and galaxies. Astronomers plan additional surveys to hunt for similar objects and to test ideas about dark matter, galaxy formation, and the conditions of the early cosmos. As for Cloud-9 itself, NASA notes it may not be finished evolving: if it keeps accumulating gas, this failed galaxy could one day turn into a real one. Is it possible it just hasn't started condensing yet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Elevator Killer 752 Posted Friday at 07:53 PM 1 minute ago, supermike80 said: Is it possible it just hasn't started condensing yet? IDK. Ask NASA. Whoever wrote this sucked. They keep referring to the gas as Dark Matter. Are they saying dark matter is gas or do they just don't know anything about the subject and was too lazy to research it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 3,476 Posted Friday at 07:55 PM 1 minute ago, The Elevator Killer said: IDK. Ask NASA. Whoever wrote this sucked. They keep referring to the gas as Dark Matter. Are they saying dark matter is gas or do they just don't know anything about the subject and was too lazy to research it. You should ask the OP, it posted this, like it would be shocking news, what the OP should have done before posting, look into what the heck was being said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hardcore troubadour 16,202 Posted Friday at 07:56 PM I bet they elected Muslims and Liberals. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 3,476 Posted Friday at 07:57 PM Just now, Hardcore troubadour said: I bet they elected Muslims and Liberals. Even worse, Catholic. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Elevator Killer 752 Posted Friday at 08:00 PM 4 minutes ago, weepaws said: You should ask the OP, it posted this, like it would be shocking news, what the OP should have done before posting, look into what the heck was being said. Wow. You make a little sense as the author of the article. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
weepaws 3,476 Posted Friday at 08:04 PM 2 minutes ago, The Elevator Killer said: Wow. You make a little sense as the author of the article. The OP is the author? That figures do-nuts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supermike80 2,177 Posted yesterday at 01:04 AM 5 hours ago, The Elevator Killer said: IDK. Ask NASA. Whoever wrote this sucked. They keep referring to the gas as Dark Matter. Are they saying dark matter is gas or do they just don't know anything about the subject and was too lazy to research it. I mean.....generally when the origin of the solar system is discussed, its postulated that the gas cloud that developed into it was "nudged" by a close supernova or some other gravitational event. Maybe that cloud just hasnt had that happen yet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cloaca du jour 2,170 Posted yesterday at 01:07 AM I heard it was run by democrats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Soilost 42 Posted yesterday at 01:45 AM Trump obviously was at the helm of trying to put it together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mookz 1,397 Posted yesterday at 01:46 AM Not the first, the second. My Galaxy failed and Samsung said it was out of warranty. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easilyscan 1,108 Posted yesterday at 03:14 AM 1 hour ago, Mookz said: Not the first, the second. My Galaxy failed and Samsung said it was out of warranty. Not bad, not bad at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grace Under Pressure 259 Posted yesterday at 03:43 AM That’s a proto-galaxy getting ready to form stars. Probably hundreds of millions of stars to come. Cold hydrogen gas is the next rare metals, book it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites