Stellar stream simulation still (IMAGE)
Caption
Most galaxies are likely surrounded by long filaments of orbiting stars known as stellar streams. In a new study from the University of Washington, astronomers simulated stellar streams — pictured here as multicolored streaks — as they orbited virtual host galaxies to test a leading theory about how dark matter might influence the streams' shape. The results could help researchers separate true evidence of dark matter from false positives.
Credit
Visualization by Arpit Arora and Adrian Price-Whelan. Milky Way image credit: Stefan Payne-Wardenaar.
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