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Dark Matter/Dark Energy
By: Julissa Rey
College Now Course - SCI 1
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 Dark MatterDid you know that about 90% of the universe's mass is believed to be made up of dark
matter and dark energy? |
WHAT IS DARK MATTER?
Dark matter is the mass in galaxies and clusters (group of stars). It is likely to
consist of planets, black holes, dust and burned out stars. The first indication of
dark matter was in the 1930's. Fritz Zwinky noticed this dark matter when he looked
carefully at a cluster of galaxies known as the Coma Cluster. Dark matter is responsible
for holding numerous large groups of galaxies together. Through the bending of light
rays from distant stars by their gravity, dark matter is, therefore, only detected
indirectly.
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 Dark Energy
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WHAT IS DARK ENERGY?
Dark energy is a repelling force that opposes the self attraction of matter found
in the universe. By using the Hubble Space Telescope, an American astronomer, Edwin
Hubble, discovered that the universe was expanding. The Hubble Space Telescope made
it possible to view a distant supernova (a disastrous explosion of a large star in
the final stages of stellar (star) evolution) that implied an accelerating, inflating
universe. This telescope also allowed astronomers to measure the distance and rate
of the expansion. |
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