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The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of galaxy cluster MACS0329-0211, revealing a diverse collection of elliptical, spiral, and lenticular galaxies. The cluster's massive gravity acts as a natural gravitational lens, magnifying and distorting light from distant background galaxies into visible arcs, including what appears to be a distorted figure-eight shape near the image center. The observation used Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide Field Camera 3 to collect visible and infrared light data as part of a program studying X-ray bright galaxy clusters.
Why it matters
Galaxy clusters like MACS0329-0211 serve as important markers for understanding how cosmic structure evolved over time. Their gravitational lensing effects enable astronomers to observe galaxies from the earliest stages of the universe that would otherwise be too distant and faint to detect.
2 min read
Hubble Sees Swarm of Galaxies
Looking somewhat like a swarm of bees returning to their hive, this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the galaxy cluster MACS0329-0211. Galaxy clusters like MACS0329-0211 are important signposts in the story of how the structure of the universe evolved, and are the ultimate telescopic lenses, placing gravitationally lensed galaxies from the earliest stages of the universe into our view.
Zoom into this galaxy swarm and you will find large, oval-shaped elliptical galaxies, and thin spiral and lenticular galaxies viewed from the edge. We can also see the full, face-on view of spiral galaxies and their curving spiral arms. The image’s upper-right quadrant holds faint arcs of distant galaxies gravitationally lensed by the cluster’s massive gravity. The largest of these arcs appears above the bright oval shape of a giant elliptical galaxy. Closer inspection of the image’s center reveals several bright-white intersecting curves that appear as a distorted figure eight. This may be another distant galaxy whose light was magnified and distorted by this massive cluster’s gravity.
Hubble looked at MACS0329-0211 as part of an observing program of X-ray bright galaxy clusters. Researchers used Hubble’s two main cameras, the Advanced Camera for Surveys and its Wide Field Camera 3, to gather data visible and infrared light from the cluster. Hubble’s ability to see such a broad spectrum of light makes it a valuable tool in understanding the very nature of these galaxy clusters.
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
Source: Hubble Sees Swarm of Galaxies