Where is the massive, invisible component known as dark matter primarily distributed?
Answer
In a large, roughly spherical region called the dark matter halo.
The mysterious substance called dark matter, which provides the necessary gravitational scaffolding for the galaxy's structure, is not concentrated centrally like a black hole. Instead, it is spread out in a vast, roughly spherical volume known as the dark matter halo. This halo extends significantly outward, often exceeding the radius of the visible stellar disk by a factor of ten or more. It is the total gravitational pull generated by this immense, unseen mass distributed throughout the halo that ensures even the most distant stars remain in orbit, preventing the entire structure from dissolving due to centrifugal forces generated by rotation.
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