Abell 2142: Clash of the Galaxy Clusters
Explanation:
Over the course of billions of years,
whole clusters of galaxies merge.
Above is an
X-ray image of
Abell 2142, the result of the collision of two huge
clusters of galaxies,
and one of the most massive objects known in the universe.
This false-color image shows a
concentration of gas 50 million
degrees hot near the center of the resulting cluster.
Oddly, it is the relative coldness of the gas that makes
this situation particularly interesting.
The center of
Abell 2142 is surrounded by gas fully twice as hot,
a temperature thought to have been created by
energy released during the
colossal collision.
Still, since we can only see a snapshot in time,
much remains unknown about how
clusters of galaxies
form and coalesce.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
