The SDSS 3D Universe Map
Explanation:
The latest map of the cosmos again indicates that
dark matter and
dark energy dominate our universe.
The
Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is on its way to
measuring the distances to over one million
galaxies.
Galaxies first identified on
2D images, like the one
shown above on the right,
have their distances measured to create the 3D map.
The SDSS currently reports 3D information for over 200,000 galaxies,
now rivaling the 3D galaxy-count of the
Two-Degree Field sky
map.
The latest SDSS map,
shown above on the left, could only show the
galaxy distribution
it does if the universe was composed and evolved a certain way.
After trying to match many
candidate universes to it, the
Cinderella universe that best fits the above map has
5%
atoms,
25%
dark matter, and 70%
dark energy.
Such a universe was
previously postulated because its
rapid recent expansion can explain why distant
supernovas are so dim, and its early evolution can explain the
spot distribution on the very distant
cosmic microwave background.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.