El Gordo (galaxy cluster)

ACT-CL J0102-4915

El Gordo consists of two separate galaxy subclusters colliding at several million
kilometres per hour.
Credit: ESO/SOAR/NASA
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation(s) Phoenix
Right ascension 01h 02m 52.50s
Declination −49° 14′ 58.00″
Other designations
El Gordo
See also: Galaxy groups, Galaxy clusters, List of galaxy clusters
This video shows the distant merging galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102−4915.

El Gordo (lit. The Fat One) (ACT-CL J0102-4915) is the largest distant galaxy cluster observed at its distance or beyond, as of 2011. As of 2014, it still holds the record for being the largest distant galaxy cluster to have been discovered.[1][2][3] It was found by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, Atacama Cosmology Telescope - funded by National Science Foundation, and European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope.[4]

This galaxy cluster, officially named as, 'ACT-CL J0102-4915', has been given a 'nickname' by the researchers as 'El Gordo', which stands for "the Fat One" or "the Big One" in Spanish. It is located more than 7 billion light-years from Earth.[5]

The Astrophysical Journal has accepted the results for publication and will announce its findings and results on 'El Gordo' at its 219th meeting in Austin, Texas.[6]

Observations

Felipe Menanteau (then of Rutgers University) who led the study stated "this cluster is the most massive, the hottest, and gives off the most X-rays of any known cluster at this distance or beyond."[7]

Findings from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory show that El Gordo is composed of two separate galaxy subclusters, colliding at several million kilometers per hour.[8] These observations (using X-ray data and other characteristics) suggest that 'El Gordo' most probably formed in the same manner as the Bullet Cluster (which is located 4 billion light years from Earth).[9][10][11][12] According to Cristóbal Sifón from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile "this is the first time we've found a system like the Bullet Cluster at such a large distance."[13]

See also

Hubble image of ACT-CL J0102-4915.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Guinness World Records 2014, Page 030.
  2. ↑ Boen, Brooke; Dunbar, Brian (16 April 2014). "Monster "El Gordo" Galaxy Cluster is Bigger Than Thought". NASA. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  3. ↑ NASA, "El Gordo Galaxy Cluster", 10 January 2012 (accessed 7 July 2012)
  4. ↑ CNN News 'Fat' galaxy cluster discovered 7 billion light-years away
  5. ↑ NASA's Chandra Finds Largest Galaxy Cluster in Early Universe
  6. ↑ These results on El Gordo are being announced at the 219th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin, Texas
  7. ↑ Felipe Menanteau of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., who led the study
  8. ↑ CNN News El Gordo is made up of two separate galaxy subclusters
  9. ↑ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110140423.htm
  10. ↑ El Gordo akin to the well-known object called the Bullet Cluster
  11. ↑ El Gordo most probably formed just like the Blue Cluster
  12. ↑ El Gordo akin to the well-known object called the Bullet Cluster
  13. ↑ Cristobal Sifon of Pontificia Universidad de Catolica de Chile (PUC) in Santiago
  14. ↑ "Hubble weighs "the fat one"". ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week. Retrieved 10 April 2014.

External links