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A2142 - Optical Image with X-ray contours
(Credit: Palomar Digitzed Sky Survey and NASA/CXC/SAO)
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Abell 2142:
Chandra Maps Cosmic Pressure Fronts
Chandra Maps Cosmic Pressure Fronts
Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the galaxy cluster Abell 2142. The image shows a colossal cosmic "weather system" produced by the collision of two giant clusters of galaxies. For the first time, the pressure fronts in the system can be traced in detail, and they show a bright, but relatively cool 50 million degree central region (white) embedded in large elongated cloud of 70 million degree gas (magenta), all of which is roiling in a faint atmosphere of 100 million degree gas (faint magenta and dark blue). The bright source in the upper left is an active galaxy in the cluster.
Abell 2142 is six million light years across and contains hundreds of galaxies and enough gas to make a thousand more. It is one of the most massive objects in the universe. Galaxy clusters grow to vast sizes as smaller clusters are pulled inward under the influence of gravity. They collide and merge over the course of billions of years, releasing tremendous amounts of energy that heats the cluster gas. The smoothness of the elongated cloud in the Chandra image suggests that these sub-clusters have collided two or three times in a billion years or more, and have nearly completed their merger.
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Visual Description:
This Chandra X-ray Observatory image shows the galaxy cluster Abell 2142. The background of the image appears to be a deep purple hue, which creates a sense of depth and contrasts with the bright objects in the foreground that are hot pink and white. In the center of the image, there are two bright spots, one much larger than the other. The larger object has a comet-like shape, while the smaller one is more spherical. The overall texture of the image is somewhat speckled. The two bright objects appear to be positioned relatively close to each other, with the larger object appearing below and slightly to the right of the smaller one. The image shows a colossal cosmic "weather system" produced by the collision of two giant clusters of galaxies. For the first time, the pressure fronts in the system can be traced in detail, and they show a bright, but relatively cool 50 million degree central region (white) embedded in large elongated cloud of 70 million degree gas (magenta), all of which is roiling in a faint atmosphere of 100 million degree gas (faint magenta and dark blue). The bright source in the upper left is an active galaxy in the cluster.
Revised: September 10, 2025