A team of astronomers used gravitational microlensing, a technique based on Einstein's 1936 theory, to discover a rare gas giant exoplanet, AT2021ueyL b, located over 3,200 light-years away in the galactic halo, marking only the third such discovery outside the Milky Way's dense center. This method allows detection of distant, cold planets in wide orbits, providing valuable insights into planetary formation in metal-poor regions. The discovery was facilitated by Gaia satellite alerts and ground-based telescopes, and it highlights the potential of upcoming missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to vastly expand our understanding of exoplanets.
A new study suggests that a gigantic blob of invisible dark matter has caused the Milky Way galaxy to warp. Measurements taken since the mid-20th century reveal that the galaxy is bent out of shape, mostly at its borders. Computer simulations indicate that a collision, likely from another galaxy, caused the dark matter halo around our galaxy to tilt up by as much as 50 degrees before slowly swinging down to its current 20-degree angle elevation. This discovery provides compelling evidence that our galaxy is embedded in a tilted dark matter halo.
A new study suggests that a gigantic blob of invisible dark matter has caused the Milky Way galaxy to warp out of shape. Measurements taken since the mid-20th century reveal that the galaxy is bent at its borders, giving it the appearance of a crushed sombrero. Computer simulations indicate that a collision with another galaxy may have caused the dark matter halo around our galaxy to tilt, resulting in the observed warping. Dark matter, which makes up 85% of the universe's matter, is completely invisible but can be detected through its gravitational effects.
