massive compact halo object

• massive astronomical compact halo object
• massive astrophysical compact halo object
• massive and compact halo object

Perhaps coined with the acronym, MACHO, in mind. See also WIMP, which represents a competing hypothesis.

massive compact halo object (plural massive compact halo objects)

1. (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.

• MACHO (abbreviation)

• 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)

• weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)
• strongly interacting massive particle (SIMP)
• robust associations of massive baryonic objects (RAMBO)

• MACHO (abbreviation)