A new algorithm from the University of Michigan has helped discover 87 new potential stellar streams. This image from 2002 shows a well-known stream (highlighted with the yellow arrow) being left by the globular cluster Palomar 5 (seen as the white circle). Image credit: Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Stellar streams are trails of stars that astronomers can study to solve mysteries about the history of our Milky Way galaxy and, potentially, the dark matter that helps shape the cosmos despite eluding direct observation.

These streams have largely been left behind by small dwarf galaxies and globular clusters, which have since petered out of existence. But there is a rare and important third type of stellar stream: streams from globular clusters that still survive.

To read more, please follow this link to Michigan News.