Astronomers have shed light on the perplexing absence of dark matter in the galaxy NGC 1052-DF2. This ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG) exhibits an unusually low amount of dark matter compared to its stellar mass, challenging conventional galaxy formation theories.
Research indicates that NGC 1052-DF2's dynamical mass, less than 340 million solar masses, closely aligns with its estimated stellar mass of 200 million solar masses. This suggests that the galaxy is primarily composed of stars, with a minimal presence of dark matter.
The study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, explored various dark matter halo models. The findings suggest that a standard 'cuspy' dark matter halo is inconsistent with the observed velocity dispersion in the galaxy, further supporting the conclusion of a dark matter deficiency.