Images by Date
Images by Category
Solar System
Stars
Exoplanets
White Dwarfs
Supernovas
Neutron Stars
Black Holes
Milky Way Galaxy
Normal Galaxies
Quasars
Galaxy Clusters
Cosmology/Deep Field
Miscellaneous
Images by Interest
Space Scoop for Kids
4K JPG
Multiwavelength
Sky Map
Constellations
Photo Blog
Top Rated Images
Image Handouts
Desktops
Fits Files
Visual descriptions
Image Tutorials
Photo Album Tutorial
False Color
Cosmic Distance
Look-Back Time
Scale & Distance
Angular Measurement
Images & Processing
AVM/Metadata
Image Use Policy
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
More Information
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Questions and Answers
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Chandra Images
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Related Podcasts
Quick Look: Spotted: 'Death Star' Black Holes in Action
Download Image

More Information

More Images
Chandra X-ray Image of 3C438
(Credit: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.P.Kraft)

Animation & Video


Related Images
MS 0735.6+7421
MS 0735.6+7421
(02 Nov 06)
Perseus Cluster
Perseus Cluster
(01 Sep 03)
Hydra A
Hydra A
(09 Dec 99)
3C438:
Galaxy Cluster Takes It to the Extreme



Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.P.Kraft; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS

In this side-by-side comparison, an apparently ordinary star field in optical light (left) is shown to be dramatically different when observed in X-rays (right). Chandra's image of 3C438, the central galaxy within a massive cluster, reveals evidence for one of the most energetic events in the local Universe. An arc-like feature to the lower left in the cluster's hot gas is about 2 million light years long.

Astronomers have determined that an enormous amount of energy would be required to produce such a large structure. One plausible scenario is that two massive clusters collided at high velocity and later merged. This would have created a shock front in the hot gas that could account for the ridge seen in the Chandra data.

Another intriguing feature in the Chandra data is the possible detection of a cavity in the hot gas. This structure, seen in the upper left of the image, would require a tremendous amount of energy to produce. There are also hints of a similar structure on the other side of the central galaxy.

Astronomers think such X-ray cavities are usually generated when large amounts of matter funnel into a supermassive black hole. The black hole inhales much of the matter but expels some of it outward in a high-speed jet, carving space into the hot gas. If the cavity was generated by a supermassive black hole, then it would be the most powerful event of its kind ever seen.

A further interesting aspect of the Chandra data is that the temperature of the gas was measured to be about 170 million degrees Celsius. This cluster is therefore one of the hottest ever seen, another sign of colossal upheaval.

Fast Facts for 3C438:
Credit  X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R.P.Kraft; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS
Scale  Each panel is 8 arcmin per side
Category  Groups & Clusters of Galaxies
Coordinates (J2000)  RA 21h 55m 52.30s | Dec +38º 00' 29.60"
Constellation  Cygnus
Observation Date  Dec 27, 2002
Observation Time  8 hours
Obs. IDs  3967
Color Code  X-ray: Blue; Optical: Yellow
Instrument  ACIS
References Kraft, R.P. et al., 2007, ApJ, Submitted
Distance Estimate  About 4.8 billion light years
Release Date  May 30, 2007