| Abell 1689 | |
|---|---|
The yellow galaxies in this image belong to the cluster itself, however, the red and blue distorted streaks are background galaxies gravitationally lensed by the cluster. Some of the lensed galaxies are over 13 billion light years (4000 megaparsec) distant. The lensing zone itself is 2 million light years (0.60 megaparsec) across.
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| Observation data (Epoch J2000) | |
| Constellation(s) | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 13h 11m 34.2s |
| Declination | -01° 21′ 56″ |
| See also: Galaxy groups and clusters, List of galaxy clusters | |
Abell 1689 is a galaxy cluster in the constellation Virgo. It is one of the biggest and most massive galaxy clusters known and acts as a gravitational lens, distorting the images of galaxies that lie behind it.[1] It is 2.2 billion light years (670 megaparsec) away from the Earth.
In February 2008, it was announced that one of the lensed galaxies, A1689-zD1, was the most distant yet found.