July 10, 2017

Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1110+6459

Galaxy Cluster SDSS J1110+6459

The galaxy cluster shown here, SDSS J1110+6459, was discovered as part of the Sloan Giant Arcs Survey. It is located about 6 billion light-years from Earth (redshift of z=0.659) and contains hundreds of galaxies. At left, a distinctive blue arc is actually composed of three separate images of a more distant background galaxy called SGAS J111020.0+645950.8. This background galaxy has been magnified, distorted, and multiply imaged by the gravity of the galaxy cluster in a process known as gravitational lensing.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and T. Johnson (University of Michigan)
Explanation from: https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/opo1727b/

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