By studying dwarf galaxy companions to the Milky Way and the nearby Andromeda galaxy, scientists will learn about galaxy formation and the properties of the mysterious substance called dark matter, which is thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe. In the first study, astronomers will examine the motions of stars in Draco and Sculptor, two dwarf galaxies that are companions to the Milky Way. By measuring how the stars move, the researchers will be able to determine how the dark matter is distributed in these galaxies. In the second study, the team will observe how four dwarf galaxies move around Andromeda. They hope to determine if those galaxies are grouped within a flat plane in space, like the planets around our Sun. This will provide insights into the process whereby large galaxies form by accretion and accumulation of smaller galaxies.

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