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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The El Gordo Massive Galaxy Cluster
NASA ^ | April 22, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 04/21/2014 10:57:54 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: It is bigger than a bread box. In fact, it is much bigger than all bread boxes put together. Galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102-4915 is one of the largest and most massive objects known. Dubbed "El Gordo", the seven billion light years (z = 0.87) distant galaxy cluster spans about seven million light years and holds the mass of a million billion Suns. The above image of El Gordo is a composite of a visible light image from the Hubble Space Telescope, an X-ray image from the Chandra Observatory showing the hot gas in pink, and a computer generated map showing the most probable distribution of dark matter in blue, computed from gravitational lens distortions of background galaxies. Almost all of the bright spots are galaxies. The blue dark matter distribution indicates that the cluster is in the middle stages of a collision between two large galaxy clusters. A careful inspection of the image will reveal a nearly vertical galaxy that appears unusually long. That galaxy is actually far in the background and has its image stretched by the gravitational lens action of the massive cluster.

April 22, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; elgordo; science
[Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Jee (UC Davis) et al.]

1 posted on 04/21/2014 10:57:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 04/21/2014 10:58:28 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Salamander; Slings and Arrows
"It's full of ....... Mushrooms!"


3 posted on 04/21/2014 11:03:32 PM PDT by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Dark matter, schmark matter...

I say, MOND!

4 posted on 04/21/2014 11:22:02 PM PDT by sargon (I don't like the sound of these here Boncentration Bamps!)
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To: SunkenCiv
holds the mass of a million billion Suns.

In 1980 Carl Sagan talked of billions and billions of stars. Now it is billions of billions of stars.

5 posted on 04/21/2014 11:37:18 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Do The Math)
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To: SunkenCiv

I don’t know what’s more astonishing... to look at pictures such as this strewn with galaxies like pebbles on the ground and realizing how insignificant we are, or... how incredible, that we, insignificant microbes on a grain of sand are capable of capturing this immensity and even attempt at understanding it.

Thanks for all your postings of these awe inspiring pictures, SunkenCiv. They have a way of putting all our earthly troubles and tribulations in the proper perspective.


6 posted on 04/21/2014 11:40:20 PM PDT by aquila48
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To: Salamander; Slings and Arrows
What could be better?
7 posted on 04/21/2014 11:40:50 PM PDT by shibumi (Cover it with gas and set it on fire.)
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To: shibumi; Salamander

Some music to go with the book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dOsbsuhYGQ


8 posted on 04/21/2014 11:45:36 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Richard Warman censors free speech.)
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To: aquila48

Hey, with the problems we all have today, I’d be just as happy if there was a black wall at the edge of the Solar System with stars painted on it. ;’) Thanks very much for the kind remarks!


9 posted on 04/22/2014 12:20:08 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: shibumi


10 posted on 04/22/2014 12:37:38 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: SunkenCiv

Awesome! One small patch of sky and poof ... galaxies everywhere. Is so vast. The matter so abundant. The dark and the voids, more abundant. Head hurts from thinking. Thanks SunkenCiv! Will brew coffee and take an aspirin.


11 posted on 04/22/2014 1:11:47 AM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: JoeProBono

Thanks Joe for breakfast. That will go great with coffee this a.m. Okay, I promise not to take your breakfast.


12 posted on 04/22/2014 1:13:16 AM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: no-to-illegals
Plenty to go around;-{)


13 posted on 04/22/2014 1:33:55 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: JoeProBono

Thanks Joe. I would place up coffee to the screen but am afraid would short out the whole works. Am sliding you some coffee Joe via virtual wording.


14 posted on 04/22/2014 1:41:15 AM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: JoeProBono

Billions and billions of shrooms!

mmmm mmmm mmmm


15 posted on 04/22/2014 4:32:58 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv
"A careful inspection of the image will reveal a nearly vertical galaxy that appears unusually long. That galaxy is actually far in the background and has its image stretched by the gravitational lens action of the massive cluster."

Wow!! That's a profound example of gravitational 'lensing'!

Though it's unlikely any human will ever witness it, I wonder what the night sky from Earth will look like to us when our Milky Way Galaxy collides with the Andromeda Galaxy. I believe they estimate that it will happen in Four Billion or so years.


16 posted on 04/22/2014 6:24:46 AM PDT by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: aquila48
I don’t know what’s more astonishing... to look at pictures such as this strewn with galaxies like pebbles on the ground and realizing how insignificant we are, or... how incredible, that we, insignificant microbes on a grain of sand are capable of capturing this immensity and even attempt at understanding it

Then just try imagining the awesomeness of the God that created it all.
17 posted on 04/22/2014 6:38:47 AM PDT by 762X51
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