composite showing an ultra-diffuse galaxy in color surrounded by background shown in black and white

Cosmology

Ghost-like Galaxy Defies Dark Matter Model

Astronomers have discovered a large but very dim ghost-like galaxy. Its existence challenges our notions of dark matter.

Dark matter-less galaxy

Astronomy & Observing News

How Galaxies Lose Their Dark Matter

A careful study of cosmological simulations shows that dark matter–less galaxies aren't impossible — just really rare.

DF2, an apparently dark matter-less galaxy

Astronomy & Observing News

New Distances Support Idea of Dark Matter-less Galaxies

New distances to two dwarf galaxies with unusually spread-out stars support the idea that these galaxies have little to no dark matter.

Astronomy & Observing News

Why Are Two Ghost Galaxies Missing Dark Matter?

Ultra-diffuse galaxies are usually dark matter-rich. But astronomers have discovered two of these galaxies that lack dark matter altogether.

Astronomy & Observing News

Globular Clusters Shine in a Galaxy Lacking Dark Matter

You may have seen recent news about NGC 1052–DF2, a galaxy that was discovered to have little or no dark matter. Now, a new study explores what NGC 1052–DF2 does have: an enigmatic population of unusually large and luminous globular clusters.

galaxy without dark matter

Astronomy & Observing News

A Galaxy Without (Much) Dark Matter

Astronomers have found a peculiar object: a fluffy galaxy that has little to no dark matter.

Astronomy & Observing News

Globular Clusters for Faint Galaxies

The origin of ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) has posed a long-standing mystery for astronomers. New observations of several of these faint giants with the Hubble Space Telescope are now lending support to one theory.

Astronomy & Observing News

Dark Galaxies Suffuse the Coma Cluster

Following on a surprising find reported last year, astronomers have now discovered almost 1,000 dark matter-rich galaxies in the Coma Cluster.

Coma Cluster

Astronomy & Observing News

Dark Galaxies Discovered in Coma Cluster

A bizarre set of galaxies in the Coma Cluster have lost most of their stars (or star-making material), making them especially rich in dark matter.