galaxy cluster

A galaxy cluster is a compact cluster of galaxies. The primary difference between a galaxy group and a galaxy cluster is that there are many more galaxies in a cluster than in a group. Also, galaxies in a cluster are more compact and have higher velocity dispersion. One of the key features of clusters is the Intracluster medium or ICM. The ICM consists of gas between the galaxies and has a temperature on the order of 7-9 keV. Clusters of galaxies should not be confused with star clusters such as galactic clusters and open clusters, which are structures within galaxies, as well as globular clusters, which typically orbit galaxies.

For more information about galaxy cluster check the Wikipedia article here

ZME Science posts about galaxy cluster

Hubble captures Dorado galaxy [PHOTO]

Mon, Mar 12, 2012

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Located some 62 million-light years away, the Dorado constellation is home to a galaxy cluster, called the Dorado Group, comprised of around 70 galaxies. A pretty massive figure by all accounts, considering the Local Group, which also include the Milky Way, contains a mere 30 galaxies under its belt. Recently, Hubble captured a splendid photo [...]

Astronomers use massive objects in space as huge telescopes, find brightest galaxy via gravity lens

Tue, Feb 7, 2012

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Whenever a massive object, with an equally massive gravitational pull, like black holes or galaxy clusters, falls between an observer, say a telescope, and a distant target in the background to be observed, than a gravitational lens is formed. Light emitted from the distant object gets twisted by the massive object, and ends up distorted [...]

Hubble captures photo of earliest galaxy cluster ever found

Sat, Jan 14, 2012

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The ever scientifically productive Hubble just came out with another gem that will help scientists unravel the mysteries of the Universe, after the telescope snapped a photo of a couple of galaxy far, far away, wrapped together in a cosmic dance which most likely led in  in the forming of a galaxy cluster – the [...]

‘El Gordo’ – largest galaxy cluster ever seen, is colliding and growing

Wed, Jan 11, 2012

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Galaxy clusters are the biggest stable structures in our Universe that we know of, typically containing 50 to 1000 galaxies. El Gordo Seven billion light years away and two million billion times heavier than our Sun lies El Gordo – which is Spanish for ‘the fat one’. Astronomers reporting at the 219th American Astronomical Society [...]

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