Galaxy Cluster Abell 370 and Beyond
Explanation:
Some 4 billion light-years away, massive galaxy cluster Abell 370
is captured in this sharp
Hubble
Space Telescope snapshot.
The cluster of galaxies only
appears to be dominated by two giant elliptical galaxies
and infested with faint arcs.
In reality, the fainter, scattered bluish arcs, along with the
dramatic dragon arc
below and left of center, are images of galaxies that lie
far beyond Abell 370.
About twice as distant, their otherwise undetected light is
magnified and distorted by the cluster's enormous gravitational mass,
overwhelmingly dominated by unseen
dark matter.
Providing a
tantalizing glimpse
of galaxies in the early universe, the effect is known as gravitational
lensing.
A consequence of warped
spacetime, lensing was
predicted by Einstein almost a century ago.
Far
beyond
the spiky foreground Milky Way star at lower right,
Abell 370 is seen toward the constellation Cetus, the Sea Monster.
It was the last of six galaxy clusters imaged in the
Frontier Fields project.
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.
