Back to Home

General Forum Message

Forums: Atm · Astrophotography · Blackholes · Blackholes2 · CCD · Celestron · Domes · Education
Eyepieces · Meade · Misc. · God and Science · SETI · Software · UFO · XEphem
RSS Button

Home | Discussion Forums | Misc. Topics | Post
Login

Be the first pioneers to continue the Astronomy Discussions at our new Astronomy meeting place...
The Space and Astronomy Agora
Origin Of Dark Matter Postulate

Forum List | Follow Ups | Post Message | Back to Thread Topics | In Response To
Posted by Steve Bodenheimer on May 3, 2001 12:25:36 UTC

Hi Robert,

You are correct that 'dark matter' finds basis in astronomy; however, the need to postulate 'dark matter' arises from the the conflict between (i)the motions of stars and gas distributions in galactic structures; and (ii) what those same structures should look like and how they should behave, based on gravity, as currently understood in physics. Although the observed the motions and structures in the central portions of galaxies is consistent with what is expected, the structures and motions observed in the outer portions of galaxies is not. If the galactic masses were consistent with what can be observed, and with gravitational force as currently understood, then the outer portions of galaxies would be flying away from the galaxy interiors. In order to explain the motions and compactness of galactic structures, it is proposed that a halo of 'dark matter', in quantities of about 10 times the galactic masses that can observed, is present in the outer structure of galaxies.

Hope this helps.

Steve Bodenheimer

Follow Ups:

Login to Post
Additional Information
Google
 
Web www.astronomy.net
DayNightLine
About Astronomy Net | Advertise on Astronomy Net | Contact & Comments | Privacy Policy
Unless otherwise specified, web site content Copyright 1994-2024 John Huggins All Rights Reserved
Forum posts are Copyright their authors as specified in the heading above the post.
"dbHTML," "AstroGuide," "ASTRONOMY.NET" & "VA.NET"
are trademarks of John Huggins