A recent statistical analysis of data from the Hubble, Euclid, and Subaru telescopes has revealed the presence of the dark galaxy ‘CDG-2’ in the Perseus galaxy cluster, located 300 million light-years away.
This celestial object represents the strongest candidate to date for what are known as ‘dark galaxies’—massive cosmic structures composed almost entirely of dark matter and nearly devoid of stars, making them impossible to detect by traditional methods.
Its stellar nursery is faint
The discovery was made by tracking four ‘globular star clusters’ that are fundamentally linked. Advanced techniques revealed a very faint glow surrounding these clusters, which is considered strong evidence for the existence of a host galaxy whose stars are so faint they cannot be detected individually.
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Estimates indicate that the total visible light from this galaxy does not exceed the brightness of six million suns, with only 16% of that light concentrated in those four clusters, making it one of the faintest galaxies ever discovered.
Scientists suggest that galaxy ‘CDG-2’ lost its star-forming gases due to violent gravitational interactions within the crowded Perseus cluster, leaving behind only a halo of dark matter and the robust star clusters that resisted disintegration.
This discovery establishes ‘globular clusters’ as effective astronomical tools for tracking dark matter and understanding the secrets of galactic evolution in harsh cosmic environments.
Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space-based observatory launched by NASA in 1990, named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. It has revolutionized astronomy by providing unprecedented deep-space images free from Earth’s atmospheric distortion, leading to major discoveries about the age and expansion of the universe. Despite initial issues with its main mirror, which were corrected in a 1993 servicing mission, it remains one of history’s most important scientific instruments.
Euclid
Euclid is a city in Ohio, USA, named after the ancient Greek mathematician Euclid, known as the “Father of Geometry.” It was founded in 1796 and grew significantly in the 20th century as a major industrial suburb of Cleveland.
Subaru
Subaru is a Japanese automotive manufacturer, historically known as being part of the larger industrial conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries. The company’s name, which means “Pleiades” star cluster in Japanese, is reflected in its logo of six stars, and it is renowned for its long-standing use of boxer engines and all-wheel-drive systems in its vehicles.
CDG-2
CDG-2 refers to Terminal 2 at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, which is the airport’s main terminal complex for most major airlines. It was inaugurated in 1982 and designed by architect Paul Andreu, featuring a distinctive circular satellite design to efficiently handle high passenger volumes. The terminal has been expanded in several phases to accommodate growing air traffic and remains a central hub for international travel.
Perseus galaxy cluster
The Perseus galaxy cluster is a massive collection of thousands of galaxies located about 240 million light-years away. It is one of the most massive objects in the known universe and is notable for its extremely hot, X-ray emitting intracluster gas, as well as a supermassive black hole at its center that generates sound waves through the surrounding plasma.
