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Collection:
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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection
Collection
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection
Collection
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Name of Image:
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Chandra X-Ray Observatory Catches Glimpse of Galaxy Formation in Early Phase
Name_of_Image
Chandra X-Ray Observatory Catches Glimpse of Galaxy Formation in Early Phase
Name of Image
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Full Description:
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This image of the galaxy cluster Abell 2125, provided by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), reveals several massive multimillion degree Celsius gas clouds that appear to be in the process of merging. Ten of the point-like sources are associated with galaxies in the cluster and the rest are probably distant background galaxies. The small bright feature in the extreme lower right-hand corner is probably a background galaxy cluster not associated with Abell 2125. The bright gas cloud on the upper left is the core of the cluster and envelopes hundreds of galaxies. It consists of several elongated clouds that are merging. Chandra, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Very Large Array radio telescope data show that several galaxies in the Abell 2125 core cluster are being stripped of their gas as they fall through surrounding high-pressure hot gas. This stripping process has enriched the core cluster's gas in heavy elements such as iron. In contrast, the bright large cloud on the lower right envelopes hundreds of galaxies and has an extraordinarily low concentration of iron atoms. It is thought that this cloud, which is several million light years from the core cluster, has not yet been enriched by the stripping of iron-rich gas from its member galaxies. Over time, as this cloud merges into the core and the hot gas pressure increases, iron atoms should be swept from the galaxies. Building a massive galaxy cluster is a step-by-step enterprise that takes billions of years and affects the growth and evolution of the member galaxies. The observations of A 2125 provide a rare glimpse into the early steps in this process. NASA?s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama manages both the Chandra and Hubble programs. (NASA/UMass/D. Wang et al.))
Full_Description
This image of the galaxy cluster Abell 2125, provided by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO), reveals several massive multimillion degree Celsius gas clouds that appear to be in the process of merging. Ten of the point-like sources are associated with galaxies in the cluster and the rest are probably distant background galaxies. The small bright feature in the extreme lower right-hand corner is probably a background galaxy cluster not associated with Abell 2125. The bright gas cloud on the upper left is the core of the cluster and envelopes hundreds of galaxies. It consists of several elongated clouds that are merging. Chandra, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), and Very Large Array radio telescope data show that several galaxies in the Abell 2125 core cluster are being stripped of their gas as they fall through surrounding high-pressure hot gas. This stripping process has enriched the core cluster's gas in heavy elements such as iron. In contrast, the bright large cloud on the lower right envelopes hundreds of galaxies and has an extraordinarily low concentration of iron atoms. It is thought that this cloud, which is several million light years from the core cluster, has not yet been enriched by the stripping of iron-rich gas from its member galaxies. Over time, as this cloud merges into the core and the hot gas pressure increases, iron atoms should be swept from the galaxies. Building a massive galaxy cluster is a step-by-step enterprise that takes billions of years and affects the growth and evolution of the member galaxies. The observations of A 2125 provide a rare glimpse into the early steps in this process. NASA?s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama manages both the Chandra and Hubble programs. (NASA/UMass/D. Wang et al.))
Full Description
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Date of Image:
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2004-08-13
Date_of_Image
2004-08-13
Date of Image
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Category:
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History of Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Category
History of Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Category
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term:
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Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Keywords
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
term
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term:
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CXO
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term:
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Hubble Space Telescope
Keywords
Hubble Space Telescope
term
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term:
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HST
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term:
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Abell 2125
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term:
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Galaxy Formation
Keywords
Galaxy Formation
term
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facet_what:
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Very Large Array
facet_what
Very Large Array
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO)
facet_what
Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO)
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
facet_what
Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Alabama
facet_where
Alabama
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
facet_where
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
facet_where
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Reference Number:
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MSFC-75-SA-4105-2C
Reference_Number
MSFC-75-SA-4105-2C
Reference Number
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MIX #:
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0401555
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NIX #:
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MSFC-0401555
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MSFC Negative Number:
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0401555
MSFC_Negative_Number
0401555
MSFC Negative Number
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UID:
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SPD-MARSH-0401555
UID
SPD-MARSH-0401555
UID
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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