Access
This article is part of Nature's premium content.
Published online 26 May 2003 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news030519-10
News
Dark matter's pull spotted
Sky survey shows Universe's unseen stuff shifting galaxies.
A massive survey of galaxies orbiting each other has revealed how dark matter, the unseen stuff that is inferred to make up 27% of the Universe, tugs on the 4% that is the visible matter of stars, planets and dust.
By measuring the velocity of satellite galaxies as they pass around larger ones, the study confirms1 that dark matter's diffuse gravitational pull speeds galactic orbits just as current theories predict.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Comments
Reader comments are usually moderated after posting. If you find something offensive or inappropriate, you can speed this process by clicking 'Report this comment' (or, if that doesn't work for you, email redesign@nature.com). For more controversial topics, we reserve the right to moderate before comments are published.