Phoenix Cluster (IMAGE)

Chandra X-ray Center

Phoenix Cluster

Caption

The Phoenix Cluster is an extraordinary galaxy cluster that is breaking several important astronomical records. The composite image on the left includes an X-ray image from Chandra (purple), an optical image from the 4-meter Blanco telescope (red, green and blue), and an ultraviolet image from GALEX (blue). This galaxy cluster has been dubbed the "Phoenix Cluster" because of the constellation in which it is found, and because of its remarkable properties including an exceptionally high rate of star formation in its center. The artist's illustration on the right depicts the cluster's central galaxy surrounded by hotter (red) and cooler gas (blue). Flowing gas is shown in the ribbon-like structures, and the newly formed stars appear as smaller blue and white dots.

Credit

X-ray: NASA/CXC/MIT/M.McDonald; UV: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M.McDonald; Optical: AURA/NOAO/CTIO/MIT/M.McDonald; Illustration: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss

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