Astronomers capture detailed image of cosmic web linking two galaxies

Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory in Chile have captured a high-definition image of a cosmic filament connecting two galaxies. This observation supports the cold dark matter model of the universe, showing a structure that spans 3 million light-years. Using the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, the team imaged the filament, which is highlighted in purple, for hundreds of hours. This is the first time such detail has been achieved, allowing for precise measurements of the gas distribution between galaxies and the cosmic web. The findings align with predictions from supercomputer simulations, confirming the density of the filaments as expected in the cold dark matter model. The researchers plan to gather more data to further explore the cosmic web's structure.