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EMSS 1358+6245:
Chandra Probes Nature of Dark Matter
The cluster of galaxies EMSS
1358+6245 about 4 billion light year away in the
constellation Draco is shown in this Chandra
image. When combined with Chandra's X-ray
spectrum, this image allowed scientists to determine
that the mass of dark matter in the cluster is about 4
times that of normal matter.
The relative percentage of dark matter increases
toward the center of the cluster. Measuring the exact
amount of the increase enabled astronomers to set
limits on the rate at which the dark matter particles
collide with each other in the cluster. This
information is extremely important to scientists in
their quest to understand the nature of dark matter,
which is thought to be the most common form of matter
in the universe.
| Fast Facts for EMSS 1358+6245: |
| Credit |
NASA/MIT/J.Arabadjis et al. |
| Scale |
X-ray Image is 3.8 arcmin on a side. |
| Category |
Groups & Clusters of Galaxies |
| Coordinates (J2000) |
RA 13h 59m 50.60s | Dec +62° 31' 04" |
| Constellation |
Draco |
| Observation Dates |
Sept 3-4, 2000
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| Observation Time |
15 hours |
| Color Code |
Intensity |
| Instrument |
ACIS |
| Distance Estimate |
4 billion light years |
| Release Date |
September 06, 2001 |
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