Hubble Space Telescope Witnesses a Galaxy Cluster in the Making

 NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope has recently unveiled an awe-inspiring spectacle of galactic proportions. Located eight billion light-years away in the constellation known as the Hounds, the colossal galaxy cluster eMACS J1353.7+4329 is currently under construction. This celestial entity, comprising two separate galaxy clusters, is undergoing a merger that will give birth to a single, gargantuan cluster acting as a gravitational lens.

A gravitational lens is a fascinating illustration of Einstein's general theory of relativity. When an astronomically massive object, like a galaxy cluster, distorts spacetime, it can alter the course of light in its vicinity, creating an effect similar to a lens. Gravitational lensing not only magnifies distant, otherwise indiscernible celestial objects, but also distorts the appearance of background galaxies into light streaks. Bright arcs visible in the following image are the initial signs of gravitational lensing, seamlessly blending with the swarm of galaxies within eMACS J1353.7+4329.

This image is the product of an observational project aptly titled "Monsters in the Making," which employed two of Hubble's instruments to survey five exceptional multi-wavelength galaxy clusters. The use of Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys enabled these multi-wavelength observations. The astronomers spearheading these observations aim to set the stage for future in-depth studies of extensive gravitational lenses, potentially using next-generation telescopes such as the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope.

Source