Abell 1689
Encyclopedia
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. 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.
Galaxy cluster
A galaxy cluster is a compact cluster of galaxies. Basic difference between a galaxy group and a galaxy cluster is that there are many more galaxies in a cluster than in a group. Also, galaxies in a cluster are more compact and have higher velocity dispersion. One of the key features of cluster is...
in the constellation Virgo
Virgo (constellation)
Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its name is Latin for virgin, and its symbol is . Lying between Leo to the west and Libra to the east, it is the second largest constellation in the sky...
. It is one of the biggest and most massive galaxy clusters known and acts as a gravitational lens
Gravitational lens
A gravitational lens refers to a distribution of matter between a distant source and an observer, that is capable of bending the light from the source, as it travels towards the observer...
, distorting the images of galaxies that lie behind it. It is 2.2 billion light years
Light Years
Light Years is the seventh studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was released on 25 September 2000 by Parlophone and Mushroom Records. The album's style was indicative of her return to "mainstream pop dance tunes"....
(670 megaparsec) away from the Earth.
In February 2008, it was announced that one of the lensed galaxies, A1689-zD1
A1689-zD1
A1689-zD1 was the most distant and therefore oldest known galaxy discovered as of February 2008. In October 2010, the discovery of galaxy UDFy-38135539 at 13 billion light-years made A1689-zD1 the second most distant galaxy in the universe....
, was the most distant yet found.
External links
- Galaxy cluster Abell 1689: Biggest 'Zoom Lens' in Space Takes Hubble Deeper into the Universe (HubbleSite)
- Galaxy cluster Abell 1689: Astronomers Find One of the Youngest and Brightest Galaxies in the Early Universe (HubbleSite)
- Astronomers take a step towards revealing the Universe's biggest mystery, ESA/HubbleHubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
Press Release.