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Vera C. Rubin Observatory discovers two new hidden companions of the Milky Way — a galaxy named Aquarius IV, and a star cluster named Rubin-GC1

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Briefings

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile identified two previously unknown Milky Way companions: Aquarius IV, a galaxy 355,000 light-years away, and Rubin-GC1, a star cluster obscured by cosmic dust. These findings, based on pre-launch test data, suggest the observatory can detect faint satellites previously thought to be hidden, potentially completing a census of the Milky Way's neighbors.

Key points

• Aquarius IV is a galaxy located in the Milky Way's distant outskirts, approximately 355,000 light-years from Earth.
• Rubin-GC1 is a star cluster situated on the far side of the Milky Way, hidden within a region shrouded by cosmic dust.

Context

The Rubin Observatory, a ground-based facility on Cerro Pachón in Chile, uses advanced technology to detect faint satellite galaxies. While 65 known satellites exist, hundreds are speculated to remain undetected. This discovery represents a significant step toward understanding galaxy formation and dark matter.

Limitations

Data used for these findings is pre-launch test data, not full survey results. Specific dates for the pre-launch data are not provided, and the full 10-year survey results are not included in this evidence.

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