NASA releases detailed infrared and X‑ray image of massive galaxy clusters

USA: NASA releases detailed view of galaxy clusters

NASA has published a new composite image that combines near‑infrared data from the James Webb Space Telescope with X‑ray observations from the Chandra X‑ray Observatory, revealing two massive galaxy clusters and their surrounding structures.

Infrared imaging by JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope captured the clusters in near‑infrared light, recording thousands of individual galaxies and numerous foreground stars. The infrared channel highlights the stellar populations and the distribution of hot gas within the clusters.

X‑ray observations from Chandra

Chandra contributed high‑energy data that appear in pink tones, indicating regions where hot plasma emits X‑rays. These emissions trace the energetic environments at the cores of the clusters and provide insight into the dynamics of the intracluster medium.

Mapping dark matter

Researchers overlaid a blue overlay that represents the inferred distribution of dark matter, derived from gravitational lensing measurements made possible by Webb’s sharp imaging. The blue structures outline the invisible scaffolding that shapes the visible matter.

Scientific implications

According to a NASA spokesperson, the combined data set allows scientists to map dark matter with unprecedented precision, improving models of large‑scale structure formation. The image also serves as a visual confirmation of theoretical predictions about how galaxy clusters evolve over cosmic time.

Further analysis is expected to refine estimates of the clusters’ total mass and to explore the interaction between dark matter, hot gas, and galaxies, thereby advancing our understanding of the universe’s composition.

Dieser Bericht basiert auf Informationen von NASA, lizenziert unter Public Domain (U.S. Government Work).