The Cheshire Cat group of galaxies

EarthSky ^ | Nov 23, 2015 | Deborah Byrd

[sparklite2]

…the mass that distorts the faraway galactic light is found surrounding the two giant 'eye' galaxies and a 'nose' galaxy. The multiple arcs of the circular 'face' arise from gravitational lensing of four different background galaxies well behind the 'eye' galaxies.

Chandra also said that that its x-ray observations show that that the two eyes of the cat - and the smaller galaxies associated with them - are slamming into one another in a colossal collision between galaxies:

Each 'eye' galaxy is the brightest member of its own group of galaxies and these two groups are racing toward one another at over 300,000 miles [nearly 500,000 km] per hour. Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (purple) show hot gas that has been heated to millions of degrees, which is evidence that the galaxy groups are slamming into one another. Chandra's X-ray data also reveal that the left 'eye' of the Cheshire Cat group contains an actively feeding supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy.

[ETL]

[Slyfox]

[katana]

More like grape Kool-Aid.

[donozark]

One of the most frightening things I’ve ever saw! LOL!

[ETL]

[BenLurkin]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks sparklite2, extra to APoD.

[umgud]

Is there a like button?

[Mike Darancette]

Wow, new background for the desktop.

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

Damn, they're EVERYWHERE!..................

[ETL]

[TheOldLady]

Thank you for the ping, Mr. Civilizations.

That is an interesting looking Cheshire Cat, but I don’t
think a tree limb could hold up even its smile after the
rest of it disappeared into the other eye.

;-)

[DungeonMaster]

Amazing! Best gravitational lens I’ve ever seen. I wish they gave an estimate of the mass required to make that lens. I imagine redshift is also affected by the gravitation.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[TheOldLady]

You’re so nice about my lame jokes, my dear friend. ;-)

[mlo]