Coma Cluster
The Dark Energy Camera captures an image of the dazzling Coma Cluster, named after the hair of Queen Berenice II of Egypt. Not only significant in Greek mythology, this collection of galaxies was also fundamental to the discovery of the existence of dark matter. The theory emerged in 1937 when Swiss astronomer Fritz Zwicky noticed that the Coma Cluster galaxies behaved as if they were under the influence of vast amounts of unobservable ‘dark’ matter.
Explore the thousands of cluster and background galaxies with this zoomable image.
Credit:CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: D. de Martin & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
About the Image
| Id: | noirlab2420a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | Aug. 14, 2024, 1 p.m. |
| Related releases: | noirlab2420 |
| Size: | 12130 x 7696 px |
About the Object
| Name: | ACO 1656, Coma Cluster |
| Distance: | 320 million light years z=0.023 (redshift) |
| Constellation: | Coma Berenices |
| Category: | Galaxy Clusters |
Image Formats
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 13 0 8.56 |
| Position (Dec): | 28° 0' 7.15" |
| Field of view: | 52.96 x 33.54 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.0° right of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical g | 473 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical r | 642 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical i | 784 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |
| Optical z | 926 nm | Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope DECam |