A Menagerie of Galaxies: Hubble Captures a Cluster With Galaxies of All Shapes and Sizes

Galaxy Cluster ACO S 295

Galaxy cluster ACO S 295 captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Pacaud, D. Coe

This packed ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week showcases the galaxy cluster ACO S 295, as well as a jostling crowd of background galaxies and foreground stars. Galaxies of all shapes and sizes populate this image, ranging from stately spirals to fuzzy ellipticals. As well as a range of sizes, this galactic menagerie boasts a range of orientations, with spiral galaxies such as the one at the center of this image appearing almost face on, and some edge-on spiral galaxies visible only as thin slivers of light.

The cluster dominates the center of this image, both visually and physically. The huge mass of the galaxy cluster has gravitationally lensed the background galaxies, distorting and smearing their shapes. As well as providing astronomers with a natural magnifying glass with which to study distant galaxies, gravitational lensing has subtly framed the center of this image, producing a visually striking scene.

1 Comment on "A Menagerie of Galaxies: Hubble Captures a Cluster With Galaxies of All Shapes and Sizes"

  1. Aleksandr7364 | May 17, 2021 at 11:17 am | Reply

    Many galaxies are difficult to systematize because the Center of our universe gives birth to galaxies in 100 arms.
    Stars give birth to planets in one spiral arm and galaxies give birth to stars in a maximum of 10 spiral arms.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFUM3vAlaGc

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