Simulation of the formation of dark matter structure around the Milky Way

Simulation of the formation of the dark matter structure surrounding the Milky Way, from the early universe to today. Gravity makes dark matter clump together and form dense structures, referred to as halos (bright areas). The number and distribution of halos depends on the properties of dark matter, such as its mass and its likelihood to interact with normal matter. Galaxies are thought to form inside these halos. In a new study, SLAC and Stanford researchers have used measurements of faint satellite galax