or countless millennia, the sky has provoked questions — and inspired the hard work that yields answers. What are those moving planets? Why do the stars shine? Resolving such ancient riddles has let today’s backyard observers gaze into familiar constellations where much is known.
But scientific comfort has always been ephemeral. The conception of dark matter in the 1930s and dark energy in the 1990s meant the universe is dominated by powerful-but-elusive entities. These raise a basic and valid question: Do these major, mysterious headline-makers show themselves in the visible heavens?
Astronomy magazine subscribers can read the full article for free. Just make sure you’re registered with the website.
