Galaxy Cluster in Pisces
At first glance this image looks like an average star field with little of interest. A closer look shows a patch of dim objects just below center. This grouping resembles a dim open cluster, but it is actually a cluster of galaxies.
Abell 41 is a very distant galaxy cluster. Its redshift of z=0.275 suggests that the cluster could be more than 3 billion light years away. Abell's catalog of galaxy clusters lists Abell 41 as having 153 members.
The closeup view in the lower image shows the shapes of some of the larger galaxies in this group, some of them edge-on spirals and others more nearly face-on. For many of the smallest objects, it is not possible to tell from this image whether they are stars or galaxies.
| Distance (light yrs) | 3 billion? |
| Right Ascension | 00:28.8 |
| Declination | +7 52 |
| Field of View | 32' x 24' |
Image details: Exposure times of 150 minutes luminance and 30 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade telescope at f/5.5.
November 2021
