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Galaxy Cluster Abell 520’s Mass (HST WFPC2)

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Mass (HST WFPC2)

This image shows the location of most of the mass in merging galaxy cluster Abell 520's core, which is dominated by dark matter. Dark matter is an invisible substance that makes up most of the universe's mass. The dark-matter map was derived from Hubble Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations, by detecting how light from distant objects is distorted by the cluster galaxies, an effect called gravitational lensing.

Abell 520 resides 2.4 billion light-years away.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    04h 54m 18.98s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    02° 56' 48.8"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Orion
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    2.4 billion light-years (740 million parsecs)

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
    Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.
    The image was created from Hubble data from proposal 11221: J. Dalcanton (University of Washington, Seattle), A. Mahdavi (San Francisco State University), H. Hoekstra (Leiden Observatory), and A. Babul (University of Victoria, BC). The science paper is led by M.J. Jee (University of California, Davis).
  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    HST>WFPC2
  • Filters
    FiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.
    HST/WFPC2 F814W (I)
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Abell 520
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Merging Galaxy Cluster
  • Release Date
    March 2, 2012
  • Science Release
    Dark Matter Core Defies Explanation in Hubble Image
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, and M.J. Jee (University of California, Davis)

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Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Mass (HST WFPC2)
Color Info
Color InfoA brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.

Blue: HST/WFPC2 F814W (I)

Related Images & Videos

Hundreds of small galaxies with blue-green, orange, and purple-pink highlighted regions.

Merging Galaxy Cluster Abell 520

This composite image shows the distribution of dark matter, galaxies, and hot gas in the core of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, formed from a violent collision of massive galaxy clusters. The natural-color image of the galaxies was taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope...

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520 (with CFHT, HST, CFHT/HST, and CXO Overlays)

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520 (with CFHT, HST, CFHT/HST, and CXO Overlays)

This composite image shows the distribution of dark matter, galaxies, and hot gas in the core of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, formed from a violent collision of massive galaxy clusters. The natural-color image of the galaxies was taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope...

Hundreds of small galaxies with blue-green, orange, and purple-pink highlighted regions.

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520 (HST-CFHT-CXO Composite)

This composite image shows the distribution of dark matter, galaxies, and hot gas in the core of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, formed from a violent collision of massive galaxy clusters. The natural-color image of the galaxies was taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope...

Hundreds of small galaxies against a dark background.

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520 (CFHT and HST)

The natural-color image of the galaxies was taken with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii. Abell 520 formed from a violent collision of massive galaxy clusters and resides 2.4 billion light-years away.

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Luminosity (CFHT)

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Luminosity (CFHT)

This image shows the concentration of starlight at the core of merging galaxy cluster Abell 520. The map was derived from observations by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii. Abell 520 resides 2.4 billion light-years away.

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Hot Gas (Chandra)

Galaxy Cluster Abell 520's Hot Gas (Chandra)

This image shows regions of hot gas at the core of merging galaxy cluster Abell 520, detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The gas is evidence that a collision between massive galaxy clusters took place. Abell 520 resides 2.4 billion light-years away.

Image titled “Galaxy Cluster Abell 520” with compass arrows, scale bar, and color key.

Compass and Scale Image of Abell 520

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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