An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Of, existing, or occurring in the space between galaxies. → intergalactic absorption, → intergalactic cloud, → intergalactic matter , → intergalactic medium , → warm-hot intergalactic medium.

→ inter-; → galactic.

→ Absorption features in the spectra of bright sources like → quasars attributed to a tenuous matter filling the medium between galaxies.

→ intergalactic; → absorption.

→ Intergalactic matter in the form of clouds.

→ intergalactic; → cloud.

Very low density material found indirectly in the space between galaxies. → intergalactic absorption.

→ intergalactic; → matter.

The matter or environment between the galaxies of a → cluster.

→ intergalactic; → medium.

The space containing a cluster of galaxies filled with a tenuous gas of temperature 10⁵ to 10⁷ K and density 10^-6 to 10^-4 cm^-3. WHIM has been continuously shock-heated during the process of structure formation. It is so highly ionized that it can only absorb or emit far-ultraviolet and soft X-ray photons, primarily at spectral lines of highly ionized C, O, Ne, and Fe. WHIM is thought to be the main reservoir of missing baryons.

→ warm; → hot; → intergalactic medium.