What keeps a galaxy together? What makes the outer fringes of a galaxy spin at the same rate as the inner regions? Does the universe contain enough mass to slow and eventually reverse its expansion? There are several theories which attempt to answer these questions, one of which calls for MAssive Compact Halo Objects, or dwarf stars, not quite massive enough for their gasses to ignite under the pressure of gravity. The theory speculates that uncounted trillions of these objects could be in orbit around every galaxy. It is the mass of all these orbiting dwarfs that gives the galaxy itself it's rotational energy and keeps the outer arms of the galaxies spinning at the same speed as the inner regions. The total mass of all the objects might even be enough to account for the so-called "missing mass" in the universe, though this is a matter of some debate, as are all "dark matter" candidates. The galaxy in this image is known as NGC 4565. Masterfully photographed by William McLaughlin, it is used here with his generous permission. This illustration was created in Bryce 3D by applying the galaxy image to a 2-dimensional plane positioned as a backdrop. The dwarf star was created from a single sphere with a texture map generated to supply the cloud bands. Three light sources were used: One to illuminate the backdrop, one to illuminate the dwarf star from the direction of the galaxie's central buldge, and one at the upper right to give the subtle hint of the light from another galaxy coming from off-frame. The saturation of the dwarf star's color was boosted in Photoshop to simulate the subtle glow these objects would have due to their infrared and near-infrared emissions.