Chandra Release - June 11, 2003

Visual Description: Abell 2029

 This is a two-panel graphic of a galaxy cluster Abell 2029. On the left is an X-ray image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory of Abell 2029. The right panel features an optical image of the same field of view.  The Chandra image is a diffuse, textured oval shape, colored in bright pink. It shows a smooth increase in the intensity of X-rays all the way into the central galaxy of the cluster. These X-rays are produced by the multimillion degree gas, which is confined to the cluster primarily by the gravity of the dark matter. The optical image is in vibrant yellow and shows that the center of this cluster is an enormous, elliptically shaped galaxy. That central galaxy appears as a large bright yellow spot in the middle surrounded by smaller irregular shapes, like a bunch of fireflies dancing in the dark.