English

Signature of a Dark Ultra-compact Dwarf Galaxy Transiting the Milky Way Disk

Astrophysics of Galaxies 2025-08-28 v1

Abstract

We report the discovery of a vertical velocity anomaly (VVA) in the stellar component of the Galactic disk, consistent with the impact of a dark, ultra-compact dwarf galaxy (UCD)-sized object plunging into the Milky Way. The anomaly spatially coincides with a suite of gaseous disturbances -- including an \Hone\ void, a molecular shell (CO 16.134--0.553), and a vertical \Hone\ filament -- previously interpreted as signatures of a dark matter subhalo (DMSH) collision. Analysis of Gaia DR2 astrometry reveals a statistically significant vertical velocity dip co-located with these features, supporting a dynamical origin. The absence of a luminous source at the filament's terminus suggests a dark or failed UCD. These results provide rare observational evidence for a low-mass DMSH, with implications for the substructure of dark matter halos and constraints on the Λ\LambdaCDM model.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.19643,
  title  = {Signature of a Dark Ultra-compact Dwarf Galaxy Transiting the Milky Way Disk},
  author = {Ken Udagawa and Tomoharu Oka and Hiroki Yokozuka and Tatsuya Kotani},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.19643},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

6 pages, 4 figures