Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/M.Markevitch et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al.; Lensing Map: NASA/STScI; ESO WFI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al.

This composite image shows the galaxy cluster 1E 0657-56, also known as the

"bullet cluster", formed after the collision of two large clusters of

galaxies. Hot gas detected by Chandra is seen as two pink clumps in the

image and contains most of the "normal" matter in the two clusters. An

optical image from Magellan and the Hubble Space Telescope shows galaxies

in orange and white. The blue clumps show where most of the mass in the

clusters is found, using a technique known as gravitational lensing. Most

of the matter in the clusters (blue) is clearly separate from the normal

matter (pink), giving direct evidence that nearly all of the matter in the

clusters is dark. This result cannot be explained by modifying the laws of

gravity.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2006/1e0657/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html