There Milky Way it is much richer than expected: according to the astronomers of the Durham University (United Kingdom), our galaxy could be one “Supergalassia”hosting many satellite galaxies so far unknown to scientists. The study has in fact calculated, through an innovative technique, the existence of several galaxies that “orbit” at close range.
Scientists have used a method that combines simulations of a supercomputer with very high resolution existing with new mathematical models, and their results suggest the existence of 80 Or maybe even 100 more satellite galaxies Around our galaxy, in close -up orbit (for cosmic distances).
If these galaxies were observed by new telescopes, this could provide strong support for the model Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM), the theory that explains the large -scale structure of the universe and how galaxies are formed.
We know that the Milky Way has about 60 confirmed satellite galaxies, but we think they should be dozens of others of these weak galaxies In orbit around the Milky Way at close range-explains Isabel Santos-Santos, who guided the study-astronomers are using our predictions as a reference point to compare the new data they are getting. One day, not very far, we could be able to see these “missing” galaxies, which would be extremely exciting and could reveal more on how the universe has been formed as we see it today
Research shows that the missing satellite galaxies of the Milky Way are in fact extremely weak, private almost entirely of their original dark materials: these, called “orphaned galaxies” are not revealed in most simulations, but they could exist in the real universe.
Using their new technique, in fact, the researchers have been able to trace their abundance, distribution and properties, showing that many other satellite galaxies of the Milky Way should exist and be observable Today.
If the population of very weak satellites that we are predicting was confirmed with new data, it would be a significant success of the LCDM theory on the formation of galaxies. And it would also provide a clear demonstration of the power of physics and mathematics – explains Carlos Frenk, co -author of the research – using the laws of physics, resolved with a great supercomputer, and mathematical modeling, we can make precise predictions that astronomers, equipped with new and powerful telescopes, can test. There is nothing better “
The results were presented at National Astronomy Meeting 2025.
Source: Durham University
