Abell 370 Explained

Abell 370
Epoch:J2000
Constellation:Cetus
Ra:[1]
Richness:0[2]
Bmtype:II-III
Redshift:0.375
Distance:1.464Gpc

Abell 370 is a galaxy cluster located nearly 5 billion light-years away from the Earth (at redshift z = 0.375), in the constellation Cetus. Its core is made up of several hundred galaxies. It was catalogued by George Abell, and is the most distant of the clusters he catalogued.

In the 1980s astronomers of Toulouse Observatory discovered a gravitational lens in space between Earth and Abell 370 using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.[3] [4] A curious arc had been observed earlier near the cluster, but the astronomers were able to recognize it as this phenomenon.[5]

Gravitational lensing

Abell 370 appears to include several arcs of light, including the largest ever discovered with 30" long. It was originally referred to as the Giant Arc, but later renamed to the Dragon Arc.[6] These arcs or deformations are mirages caused by gravitational lensing of distant galaxies by the massive galaxy cluster located between the observer and the magnified galaxies.[7] [8] This cluster shows an apparent magnitude of +22.

In 2002, astronomers used this lensing effect to discover a galaxy, HCM-6A, 12.8 billion light years away from Earth. At the time it was the furthest known galaxy.[9]

In 2009, and HST study in the field of Abell 370 revealed in greater detail the 30" long arc with the appearance of a dragon, and hence rebranded as The Dragon[10] by NASA scientists.[11] Its head is composed of a spiral galaxy,[12] with another image of the spiral composing the tail. Several other images form the body of the dragon, all overlapping.[13] These galaxies all lie approximately 5 billion light years away.

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NED results for object ABELL 0370 . NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) . March 15, 2012 .
  2. Abell . George O. . George O. Abell . Corwin . Harold G. Jr. . Harold G. Corwin . Olowin . Ronald P. . Ronald P. Olowin . May 1989 . A catalog of rich clusters of galaxies . Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series . 70 . May 1989 . 1–138 . PDF . 0067-0049 . 1989ApJS...70....1A . 10.1086/191333 . March 12, 2012 . free .
  3. Book: Brunier, Serge. Majestic Universe: Views from Here to Infinity. 1999-10-28. Cambridge University Press. 9780521663076. en.
  4. Soucail . G. . Fort . B. . Mellier . Y. . Picat . J. P. . 1987-01-01 . A blue ring-like structure in the center of the A 370 cluster of galaxies. . Astronomy and Astrophysics . 172 . L14–L16 . 0004-6361.
  5. Bergmann . Anton G. . Petrosian . Vahe . Lynds . Roger . 1990-02-01 . Gravitational Lens Models of Arcs in Clusters . The Astrophysical Journal . 350 . 23 . 10.1086/168359 . 0004-637X.
  6. Web site: Abell 370 . 2024-07-18 . HubbleSite . en.
  7. Web site: Starr . Michelle . Hubble Just Revealed Thousands of Hidden Galaxies in This Jaw-Dropping Photo - Hello, new desktop wallpaper. . 13 September 2018 . ScienceAlert.com . 13 September 2018 .
  8. New York Times, "SCIENCE WATCH; Mirages in the Sky May Not Be So Rare" Tuesday, October 18, 1988
  9. BBC News, "Far away stars light early cosmos" Thursday, 14 March 2002, 11:38 UTC
  10. Astronomy Now, "Refurbished Hubble gets off to a flying start" 09-09-09 (accessed 2009-11-07)
  11. New York Times, "The Universe, in High Definition" 09/09/09 (accessed 2009-11-07)
  12. New Scientist, "Upgraded Hubble telescope spies cosmic 'dragon' " 09.09.09 (accessed 2009-11-07)
  13. National Geographic, "NEW HUBBLE PICTURES: First Shots From Upgraded Orbiter" Saturday, November 7, 2009 (accessed 2009-11-07)

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