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More Images of 1E 0657-56
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Gravitational Lensing Explanation
This illustration explains how gravitational lensing, a prediction of
Einstein's theory of general relativity, can be used to determine the
location of mass in a galaxy cluster. Gravity from mass in the galaxy
cluster distorts light from background galaxies. In the idealized case
shown here, two distorted images of one background galaxy are seen above
and below the real location of the galaxy. By looking at the shapes of
many different background galaxies, it is possible to make a map showing
where the gravity and therefore the mass in the cluster is located. This is
an excellent technique for studying dark matter.
Scale: Image is 13.5 x 10.6 arcmin
(Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
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X-ray/Optical/Lensing Map Composites of 1E 0657-56
These images show the galaxy cluster 1E 0657-56, also known
as the bullet cluster. The optical image from Magellan and HST shows
galaxies in orange and white. Hot gas in the cluster, which contains the
bulk of the normal matter in the cluster, is shown by the Chandra X-ray
Observatory image in pink. Most of the mass in the cluster is shown in
blue, as measured by gravitational lensing, the distortion of background
images by mass in the cluster. This mass is dominated by dark matter. The
clear separation between normal matter and dark matter has not been seen
before and gives the strongest evidence yet that most of the matter in the
Universe is dark.
View Motion Graphic
Scale: Images are 7.5 x 5.4 arcmin
(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.)
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Chandra X-ray Image of 1E 0657-56
Dark matter and normal matter have been wrenched apart by the tremendous collision of two large clusters of galaxies. Never previously seen, this discovery, made with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, gives direct evidence for the existence of dark matter.
Scale: Full-field image is 13.5 x 10.6 arcmin
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/M.Markevitch et al.;
Lensing Map: NASA/STScI; ESO WFI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al.)
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Galaxy Cluster in Perspective
This optical image from Hubble and Magellan shows a close-up (inset) of one of the galaxies, a
spiral galaxy approximately the same size as the Milky Way, within the
galaxy cluster known as 1E 0657-56. The full-field view shows
over a thousand galaxies in this cluster. These immense objects are
among the largest structures in the Universe.
View Motion Graphic
Scale: Full-field image is 7.5 x 5.4 arcmin
(Credit: NASA/STScI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al.)
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4-Panel Illustrations of Cluster Collision
These stills show four stages from an artist's representation of the huge collision that
is taking place in the bullet cluster. Hot gas, containing most of the
normal matter in the cluster, is shown in red and dark matter is shown in
blue. During the collision the hot gas in each cluster is slowed and
distorted by a drag force, similar to air resistance. A bullet-shaped cloud
of gas forms in one of the clusters. In contrast, the dark matter is not
slowed by the impact because it does not interact directly with itself or
the gas except through gravity. Therefore, the dark matter clumps from the
two clusters move ahead of the hot gas, producing the separation of the
dark and normal matter seen in the image.
View Animation
(Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss)
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| 1E 0657-56 with Scale Bar
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Return to 1E 0657-56 (21 Aug 06)
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