massive compact halo object
English
Alternative forms
- massive astronomical compact halo object
- massive astrophysical compact halo object
- massive and compact halo object
Etymology
Perhaps coined with the acronym, MACHO, in mind. See also WIMP, which represents a competing hypothesis.
Noun
massive compact halo object (plural massive compact halo objects)
- (astronomy, physics) Any kind of astronomical body comprising normal baryonic matter that in sufficient numbers might explain the apparent presence of dark matter in galaxy halos.
Synonyms
- MACHO (abbreviation)
Hypernyms
- dark matter (non-luminous matter needed to balance the orbital speeds observed in stars in galaxies with the observed luminous mass of the galaxy in question)
Coordinate terms
- weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)
- strongly interacting massive particle (SIMP)
- robust associations of massive baryonic objects (RAMBO)
Derived terms
- MACHO (abbreviation)
Translations
astronomical body
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