Abell 3376, Galaxy Cluster, X-Ray (peaked)
Two different teams have reported using Chandra observations of galaxy clusters to study the properties of gravity on cosmic scales and test Einstein's theory of General Relativity. Image of the galaxy cluster Abell 3376 shows X-ray data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the ROSAT telescope. The "bullet-like" appearance of the X-ray data is caused by a merger, as material flows into the galaxy cluster from the right side. The growth of galaxy clusters like Abell 3376 is influenced by the expansion rate of the universe, controlled by the competing effects of dark matter and dark energy, and by the properties of gravity over large scales. By contrast, observations of supernovas or the large-scale distribution of galaxies, which measure cosmic distances, depend only on the expansion rate of the universe and are not sensitive to the properties of gravity. Release date April 14, 2010.
Size: 3600px × 3348px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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