At the moment, half of the cluster of galaxies experiencing a powerful series of collisions and mergers, accompanied by bursts of star formation.

Thanks to the upgraded VLA telescope, scientists were able to obtain color images of the merger of the two halves of the galaxy cluster Abell 2256, said in a paper published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Photo: VLA

According to Fraser Owen, lead author of the article, the images have helped scientists to study in detail the interaction of the two merging clusters of galaxies. Astronomers have learned that this process involves a previously unknown physical processes.

Abell 2256 is the closest to the milky Way "supercabinet" galaxies, it is removed from the planet by a mere 800 million light years and extends about 4 billion light years. The total mass of stars in Abell 2256 is a thousand trillion times larger than the Sun.

At the moment half of this accumulation are experiencing a powerful series of collisions and mergers, followed by massive bursts of star formation, with bursts of radiation and other phenomena, visible even from the Ground.

Photo: Wikipedia

VLA Telescope (Verbally antenna array) is a complex system of 27 radio telescopes located throughout the state of new Mexico (USA). Its overall sensitivity is equivalent to the antenna with a diameter of 36 kilometers. VLA was used to search for water on mercury, microquasars, radiation around stars and many other studies.

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