Looking Through Abell 68
Explanation:
Want to use a
cluster
of galaxies as a telescope?
It's easier
than you might think as
distant galaxy clusters naturally act as strong gravitional lenses.
In accordance with Einstein's theory of general relativity, the
cluster gravitational mass,
dominated by dark matter,
bends light and creates magnified,
distorted images of even more distant background galaxies.
This
sharp infrared Hubble image illustrates the case for galaxy
cluster Abell 68 as a
gravitational telescope,
explored by amateur astronomer Nick Rose during the ESA-Hubble
Hidden Treasures image processing competition.
Putting your cursor over the picture will label highlights in
the scene.
Labels 1 and 2 show two lensed images of the same background galaxy.
The distorted galaxy image labeled 2 resembles a
vintage space
invader!
Label 3 marks a cluster member galaxy, not gravitationally lensed,
stripped of its own gas as it plows through the denser
intergalactic medium.
Label 4 includes many background galaxies imaged as elongated
streaks and arcs.
Abell 68 itself is some 2.1
billion light-years distant
toward the constellation Vulpecula.
The central region of the cluster covered
in the Hubble view spans over 1.2 million light-years.
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.
