Abell 2744 facts for kids
Abell 2744, often called Pandora's Cluster, is a giant group of galaxies. It formed when at least four smaller galaxy clusters crashed into each other. This huge cosmic pile-up happened over 350 million years. The galaxies we see make up only a small part of its total mass.
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What is Abell 2744 Made Of?
This amazing cluster is mostly made of things we cannot easily see.
Hot Gas and X-rays
About 20 percent of the cluster's mass is super hot gas. This gas is so incredibly hot that it only shines in X-rays. X-rays are a type of light that our eyes cannot detect. Scientists use special telescopes to "see" these X-rays.
The Mystery of Dark Matter
The biggest part of Pandora's Cluster, about 75 percent, is made of dark matter. Dark matter is a mysterious substance. We cannot see it directly. It does not give off light or energy. However, we know it exists because of its strong gravity. Dark matter pulls galaxies and clusters together. Scientists are still working hard to understand what dark matter is.
Radio Halo
Abell 2744 also has a special feature called a radio halo. This is a large area that gives off radio waves. It has a strong center and a long tail. Scientists think this tail might be leftover energy from the cluster's formation. It could also be an extension of the central radio halo.
Why is it Called Pandora's Cluster?
Renato Dupke was a scientist on the team that discovered this cluster. He explained how it got its nickname. He said they called it "Pandora's Cluster" because "so many different and strange phenomena were unleashed by the collision." This refers to the many unusual things they found happening in the cluster.
Images for kids
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Abell 2744 parallel field observed as part of the Frontier Fields programme.
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The galaxies that are not coloured blue are either in the foreground or background and are not part of the cluster.
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Abell 2744 galaxy cluster - extremely distant galaxies revealed by gravitational lensing (16 October 2014).
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View of Pandora's cluster composite of x-ray and visible wavelengths images. Unrelated objects have been edited out.
See also
In Spanish: Abell 2744 para niños
