Gravitational Arcs

Gravitational Arcs

Narrow arc-like shapes located around clusters of galaxies were found using the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. These extragalactic properties were interpreted as the result of strong gravitational lensing from distant galaxies in the background and are now important tools for mapping dark matter in the intervening galaxy clusters.

Credit:

NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Lynds, V. Petrosian

Usage of NOIRLab Images and Videos
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About the Image

Id:9-Gravitational-Arcs-2x-CC2
Type:Collage
Release date:July 14, 2023, 1:46 p.m.
Size:1218 x 1602 px

About the Object

Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Fullsize OriginalFullsize Original
2.0 MB
Large JPEGLarge JPEG
375.3 KB
Screensize JPEGScreensize JPEG
314.9 KB

Zoomable

ZoomableZoomable

Wallpapers

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185.8 KB
1280x10241280x1024
253.7 KB
1600x12001600x1200
323.8 KB
1920x12001920x1200
343.3 KB
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1.3 MB

Colors & filters

BandWave-lengthTele-scope
Optical
V		550 nmNicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope
TI-2
Optical
R		630 nmNicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope
TI-2
Optical
I		780 nmNicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope
TI-2
Infrared
Y		1.0 μmNicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope
TI-2