Astronomers observing the Perseus cluster, one of the most massive known galaxy clusters, believe they have discovered a potential bridge of dark matter connecting it to other galaxies that may eventually become part of the cluster.
The Perseus cluster already contains thousands of galaxies and is located approximately 240 million light-years away from Earth. Recent observations suggest that additional galaxies could be on a trajectory to join the cluster, possibly guided by structures formed by dark matter.
Dark matter, which does not emit, absorb, or reflect light, remains largely mysterious but is thought to make up a significant portion of the universe’s mass. Scientists believe it plays a crucial role in shaping galaxies and larger cosmic structures. This newly observed ‘bridge’ may be a filament of dark matter along which galaxies are moving, influenced by its gravitational pull.
These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting the theory that the large-scale structure of the universe is composed of a web of dark matter and galaxies, often referred to as the ‘cosmic web.’ Further studies and more detailed observations will be necessary to confirm the nature of this potential dark matter filament and its influence on galactic movement and structure formation.
Source: https:// – Courtesy of the original publisher.
