Hubble Unveils Dark Matter Web in Stunning Abell 209 Galaxy Cluster Image

NASA/ESA’s Hubble House Telescope has launched a putting new image of the big galaxy cluster Abell 209, 2.8 billion light-years from us within the Cetus constellation. The big cluster accommodates over 100 galaxies held collectively by gravity, however what’s seen is simply half the story. Beneath the shining galaxies is a tangled net of unseen scaffolding—sizzling, diffuse gasoline and an enormous quantity of darkish matter. Though invisible, these components outline the universe via their gravitational pull. The sturdy lenses of Hubble allow scientists to check these invisible components and the twisted spacetime that they create.

Technological development

In keeping with NASA website, the brand new picture was taken with Hubble’s Superior Digital camera for Surveys (ACS) and Broad Discipline Digital camera 3 (WFC3). Twelve exposures taken via totally different shade filters have been mixed to make the complete view. The ultimate image has a golden glow from dozens of shiny elliptical galaxies clustering on the heart, together with just a few blue spiral galaxies on the edges. , Hubble avoids Earth’s blur to make distant galaxies seem pinpoint-sharp . In seen gentle, the biggest galaxies seem as easy golden orbs, whereas the spiral galaxies shine a faint blue. Hubble demonstrates a technological brilliance by merging optical and infrared information into one putting cosmic portrait.

Scientific revealations

Hubble scientists say pictures like this can assist reply basic questions on darkish matter and darkish power. The space between Abell 209’s galaxies is laced with X-ray–sizzling gasoline and dominated by darkish matter. Solely about 5% of the cosmos is odd matter; roughly 25% is darkish matter and 70% is darkish power.

An enormous cluster acts like a pure lens: its gravity barely warps the sunshine from extra distant galaxies. Within the Hubble picture, just a few faint background galaxies seem stretched into curved streaks. By measuring these distortions, scientists can map the cluster’s whole mass (together with darkish matter). This lets them check theories about how the universe has grown beneath the affect of darkish matter and darkish power