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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Looking Through Abell 68
NASA ^ | March 08, 2013 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 03/08/2013 2:45:07 PM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Want to use a cluster of galaxies as a telescope? It's easier than you might think as distant galaxy clusters naturally act as strong gravitional lenses. In accordance with Einstein's theory of general relativity, the cluster gravitational mass, dominated by dark matter, bends light and creates magnified, distorted images of even more distant background galaxies. This sharp infrared Hubble image illustrates the case for galaxy cluster Abell 68 as a gravitational telescope, explored by amateur astronomer Nick Rose during the ESA-Hubble Hidden Treasures image processing competition. Putting your cursor over the picture will label highlights in the scene. Labels 1 and 2 show two lensed images of the same background galaxy. The distorted galaxy image labeled 2 resembles a vintage space invader! Label 3 marks a cluster member galaxy, not gravitationally lensed, stripped of its own gas as it plows through the denser intergalactic medium. Label 4 includes many background galaxies imaged as elongated streaks and arcs. Abell 68 itself is some 2.1 billion light-years distant toward the constellation Vulpecula. The central region of the cluster covered in the Hubble view spans over 1.2 million light-years.

March 08, 2013

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: abell68; apod; astronomy; science
[Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage/ESA-Hubble Collaboration - Acknowledgment: Nick Rose]

1 posted on 03/08/2013 2:45:07 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

2 posted on 03/08/2013 2:45:34 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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Direct link to the big version:

http://129.164.179.22/apod/image/1303/abell68_hubble.jpg


3 posted on 03/08/2013 2:46:16 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Check out that pile of yellow scrap that used to be six buses yesterday. It's on Drudge and you will be amused..
4 posted on 03/08/2013 2:56:25 PM PST by Domangart
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To: Domangart
I couldn't find it on Drudge, but googled it. *This* was on Drudge:
Zero

5 posted on 03/08/2013 4:17:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

My buddy is building a 55. Nearly 60 yrs after production it looks pretty darn good.


6 posted on 03/08/2013 4:22:44 PM PST by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: nascarnation

:’)


7 posted on 03/08/2013 5:21:28 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

You must’ve Googled “Hubble Hubble”


8 posted on 03/08/2013 6:40:32 PM PST by mikrofon (Careful ;)
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To: SunkenCiv
Just WOW !


9 posted on 03/08/2013 6:48:21 PM PST by Delta 21 (Oh Crap !! Did I say that out loud ??!??)
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