Abell 671

Click on image for larger version.

Rarely do galaxies in our Universe live in isolation. Instead the large scale universe (of normal matter) is quite clumpy with galaxies tending to congregate in large clusters and superclusters. The rich cluster of galaxies shown here is not nearby. Abell 671 is estimated to be around 600 million light years away. Even at this great distance, hints of galaxies of various types can be detected. The greater number of elliptical (fuzzy round ones) galaxies is probably due to the numerous gravitational interactions that have taken place through their mutual orbital dances (such as the pair to the right of center).

Equipment

20in RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/8.4
Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount
SBIG ST10XME CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 90 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 15 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 15 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 15 minutes binned 2x2
  • The AO unit was used to acquire this image.
  • Digital Development (DDP) via Maxim/DL was also used in order to display the the very dim and very bright details of the image simultaneously.

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    Minimum credit line: Michael Petrasko and Muir Eveden/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 11/18/2004