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Hubble Discovers First Starless 'Failed Galaxy' Cloud-9

Hubble Discovers First Starless 'Failed Galaxy' Cloud-9

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The Spin

Cloud-9 represents a groundbreaking discovery that validates decades of theoretical predictions about dark matter halos that never formed galaxies. This starless gas cloud proves astronomers' understanding of hierarchical galaxy formation is correct, demonstrating that not every dark matter halo successfully births stars. The failed galaxy offers an unprecedented window into the dark universe and early cosmic epochs.

The RELHIC classification remains premature without discovering similar objects to confirm Cloud-9 isn't just an anomaly. Its irregular shape contradicts theoretical expectations for such pristine remnants, and alternative explanations like circumgalactic gas interactions haven't been definitively ruled out. Confirming absolute starlessness proves nearly impossible given observational limits.


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All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0