Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox => Universe Sandbox ² | Discussion => Topic started by: Beast on April 12, 2015, 07:20:39 AM

Title: Red dots
Post by: Beast on April 12, 2015, 07:20:39 AM
Recently playing around with galaxies on US2, I have noticed red bodies surrounding galaxies.
As this screenshot shows.



What are these?
Title: Re: Red dots
Post by: Josh on April 12, 2015, 08:27:04 AM
My guess is that they're globular clusters, although I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Red dots
Post by: Chris on April 12, 2015, 09:42:58 AM
These are dark matter particles used to stabilize the shape of the galaxy.
Eventually visualizing them will be optional and a lot prettier ;)
Title: Re: Red dots
Post by: Beast on April 12, 2015, 01:59:43 PM
These are dark matter particles used to stabilize the shape of the galaxy.
Eventually visualizing them will be optional and a lot prettier ;)

Ok cool. Thanks!  ;D
Title: Re: Red dots
Post by: crashman1390 on April 12, 2015, 03:09:57 PM
These are dark matter particles used to stabilize the shape of the galaxy.
Eventually visualizing them will be optional and a lot prettier ;)

Just asking about your comment, if the dark matter particles is supposed to stabilize the shape of the galaxy, why does the dark matter tear apart the galaxy then?
Title: Re: Red dots
Post by: Greenleaf on April 12, 2015, 11:20:34 PM
"stabilize shape" means "make the stars orbit the galaxy center at the observed velocity".
You would expect the stars closest to the center to orbit with a higher angular velocity than those farther out, but this is not exactly what is being observed in reality. The hypothesis is that there is invisible, non colliding, yet gravitating, "dark" matter which skews the mass distribution in such a way that the observed orbit velocities again make sense.


This means that the "dots" can equally well destabilize the simulation, since they are essentially just gravitating bodies... invisible stars.