Perseus Cluster

The Perseus cluster ( Abell 426 ) is a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Perseus and is about 240 million light years away. Its mean radial velocity is about 5400 kilometers per second. He is one of the next rich galaxy clusters and comprises about 500 to 1000 galaxies, spread across the sky over an area with a diameter of about 15 °. It consists mainly of yellowish elliptical and lenticular galaxies and has an estimated total mass of 2 × 1015 solar masses. Following the procedure used by Rood and Sastry (RS ) scheme of the pile is classified as Type L due to its elongated shape.

The Perseus cluster contains, among other things, the strong radio source Perseus A ( 3C 84), which is associated with the giant cD galaxy NGC 1275 in the center of the cluster. The relativistic plasma in the center of the cluster NGC 1275 is also the source of strong X-ray radiation, which make the Perseus cluster to the brightest galaxy clusters in this spectral range.

Astronomers discovered in 2003 in the center of the galaxy cluster the lowest measured at this time acoustic sound in the universe and spread, creating a sensation. After 53 hours of observation by the Chandra X-ray satellite, the researchers were able to make sound waves within the relativistic gas surrounding a giant black hole in the center of the cluster. The wavelength is close to the tone B, 57 octaves below middle C.

Gallery

Center of the galaxy NGC 1275 with parts of the relativistic gas ( gas bubbles)