Thread by @Nereide

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The img shows the inner region of Abell 1689, an immense cluster of galaxies located 2.2 billion ly away in constellation Virgo.
Astronomers used Hubble to map the distribution of dark matter in the galaxy cluster. ➡️bit.ly/3tVdSzz

#scritturebrevi #VentagliDiParole

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Here is Abell 1689, with the mass distribution of the dark matter in the gravitational lens overlaid (in purple).

The mass in this lens is made up partly of normal (baryonic) matter and partly of dark matter.

➡️bit.ly/35WKCjZ

#scritturebrevi #VentagliDiParole

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Abell 1689 shows over 160,000 globular clusters, the largest population ever found.

Because of its huge mass, the cluster acts as a cosmic magnifying glass, causing light to bend around it.

➡️bbc.in/3i3z2pG

#scritturebrevi #VentagliDiParole #Space #Science

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Acting as a gravitational lens, Abell 1689 distorts the images of galaxies that lie behind it.

In the 2nd image, distorted galaxies are clearly visible around the edges of the gravitational lens.

➡️bit.ly/3q20atq

#scritturebrevi #VentagliDiParole #Science #Space