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![[Cl0024+1654 image]](./images/clusters/cl0024_hst.gif)
CL 0024+1654 is a large cluster of galaxies 5 billion light-years from Earth. It is distinctive because of its richness and its magnificent gravitational lens, shown above. The blue loops in the foreground are lensed images of a spiral galaxy located behind the cluster.
Gravitational Lenses
A very massive object, such as a cluster of galaxies, can act as a gravitational lens. When light passes through the cluster from a source lying behind it, the light is bent and focused to produce an image or images of the source. The image may be magnified, distorted, or multiplied by the lens, depending upon the position of the source with respect to the lensing mass.
Clusters of Galaxies
CL 0024+1654
References
| Project Collaborators | ||
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Professor David Koo Lick Observatory UC,Santa Cruz koo@lick.ucsc.edu |
Dr. Luc Simard Lick Observatory UC,Santa Cruz simard@ucolick.org |
Susan Rappoport Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences UC,San Diego sunspot@cassiopeia.ucsd.edu |
Useful Astronomy Links:
AstroImages: ANU list of Sites for pretty pictures.Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
AstroWeb: NRAO list of Astronomy Sites on the Web, with searchable index.