Mapping Dark Matter

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory collaborated to visualize dark matter.
The image combines data from both observatories to show galaxy clusters and their collective light emitted by stars no longer bound to individual galaxies.
Researchers used the Webb telescope’s observations to carefully measure the mass of the galaxy clusters.
The project aimed to better understand dark matter, a mysterious substance that makes up approximately 27% of the universe’s mass-energy density.
The image was released on June 30, 2025, providing new insights into the nature of dark matter and its role in the universe.

Webb near-infrared data combined with Chandra X-ray data of the Bullet Cluster show many overlapping objects, including foreground stars, galaxies in galaxy clusters, and distorted background galaxies behind the galaxy clusters. The objects are all at various distances set against the black background of space. Most galaxies appear as tiny fuzzy ovals in white, orange, or red. A slightly larger, very bright, light blue spiral galaxy is at center. To its immediate left and right are two large bright pink splotches representing X-rays. The right pink area has a rounded nose facing right, where it is darker pink, and fades to the left as a triangular shape. This is referred to as the Bullet. To the far left and far right, next to the pink regions, are two blue regions representing dark matter mass. The left blue region is a large, long oval at an angle. The blue region at right is a far smaller oval.

NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC

This image released on June 30, 2025, combines data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to visualize dark matter. Researchers used Webb’s observations to carefully measure the mass of the galaxy clusters shown here as well as the collective light emitted by stars that are no longer bound to individual galaxies.

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Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC

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Q. Who collaborated on the image release?

A. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC.

Q. What telescope was used to visualize dark matter?

A. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

Q. Which observatory was also used to visualize dark matter?

A. NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Q. What was the purpose of measuring the mass of galaxy clusters?

A. To carefully measure the mass of galaxy clusters and the collective light emitted by stars that are no longer bound to individual galaxies.

Q. When was the image released?

A. June 30, 2025.

Q. Who can learn more about this topic?

A. Anyone interested in learning more about dark matter and its visualization.

Q. What is dark matter?

A. (Implicitly mentioned as a mysterious substance that makes up approximately 85% of the universe’s mass-energy budget.)

Q. Which space agencies contributed to the image release?

A. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC.

Q. What can be seen in the combined data from Webb and Chandra X-ray Observatory?

A. The collective light emitted by stars that are no longer bound to individual galaxies.

Q. Who is credited for the image release?

A. NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, CXC (as a collaborative effort).