NASA / ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope created this beautiful image of the massive and rich galaxy cluster Abell 1351.
This Hubble image shows the massive Abell 1351 galaxy cluster. The color image was taken from separate exposures made in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum with the Hubble Wide Range Camera 3 (WFC3) and the Advanced Study Camera (ACS). Several filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is the result of assigning different shades to each monochrome image associated with a separate filter. Image Credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / H. Ebeling / L. Shatz.
Galactic clusters contain thousands of galaxies of all ages, shapes and sizes.
They are usually about one million billion times the mass of the Sun.
At one time, they were thought to be the largest structures in the universe – until they were usurped in the 1980s by the discovery of superclusters.
However, clusters have one thing to stick to; superclusters are not held together by gravity, so galactic clusters still retain the title of the largest gravitational structures in the universe.
Albert Einstein predicted in his general theory of relativity that massive objects would deform the fabric of space itself.
When light passes through one of these objects, such as a massive galaxy cluster, its path changes slightly.
“This image of Hubble is filled with streaks of light, which are actually images of distant galaxies,” said Hubble astronomers.
“Stripes are the result of gravitational lenses, an astrophysical phenomenon that occurs when a massive celestial body like a galaxy cluster distorts space-time strongly enough to affect the path of light passing through it – almost as if light passes through a giant lens.”
“Gravity lenses come in two varieties – strong and weak – both of which can give astronomers an idea of the distribution of mass in a lenticular galaxy cluster, such as Abell 1351.
Abell 1351 is located about 4 billion light years from us in the northern constellation Ursa Major.
Also known as MACS J1142.4 + 5831, this cluster contains at least 100 galaxies.
“Hubble’s observation is part of an astronomical album that includes snapshots of some of the most massive galaxy clusters,” the researchers said.
“This menagerie of massive clusters demonstrates interesting astrophysical phenomena such as a strong gravitational lens, as well as spectacular examples of the violent evolution of galaxies.
“To get this astronomical album, astronomers have proposed a snapshot program to be included in Hubble’s busy observation schedule.”
“These snapshot programs are lists of individual, relatively short exposures that can fit into gaps between longer Hubble observations.”
“Having a large set of candidates for snapshots to dive into allows Hubble to use every second of possible observation time and maximize the observatory’s scientific results.”
Add Comment