Galaxy Cluster Takes It to the Extreme

Chandra_356_1024

chandra_356 May 30th, 2007

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.P.Kraft; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS

This comparison of 3C438 in optical (left) and X-ray (right) light reveals evidence for one of the most energetic events in the local Universe. An arc-like feature to the lower left in the cluster's hot gas is about 2 million light years long. Astronomers have determined that an enormous amount of energy would be required to produce such a large structure. One plausible scenario is that two massive clusters collided at high velocity and later merged. Another intriguing feature in the Chandra data is the possible detection of a cavity in the hot gas, which may be the result from a tremendous outburst from a supermassive black hole.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2007/3c438/

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

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

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Image Details

Image Type
Collage
Object Name
3C438 3C438
Subject - Distant Universe
Galaxy > Grouping > Cluster
Galaxy > Grouping > Cluster

Distance

Universescale3
3,300,000,000 light years

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 21h 55m 52.3s
DEC = 38° 0’ 28.5”
Constellation
Cygnus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Pseudocolor Chandra (ACIS) X-ray 826.7 pm
Grayscale DSS (DSS2B) Optical (B-band) 443.0 nm
Spectrum_xray1
Pseudocolor
Grayscale
Chandra_356_1280
×
ID
356
Subject Category
D.5.5.3.   D.5.5.3.  
Subject Name
3C438, 3C438
Credits
X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.P.Kraft; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS
Release Date
2007-05-30
Lightyears
3,300,000,000
Redshift
0.29
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2007/3c438/
Type
Collage
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, DSS
Instrument
ACIS, DSS2B
Color Assignment
Pseudocolor, Grayscale
Band
X-ray, Optical
Bandpass
-, B-band
Central Wavelength
0.8267, 443
Start Time
2002-12-27, -
Integration Time
47900, -
Dataset ID
3967, -
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
2000.0
Reference Value
328.968035, 38.007909
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
3c438.tif
Metadata Date
2012-08-22T14:05:42-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
3,300,000,000 light years

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