X-ray, Radio & Optical Images of Abell 1758
These images of the northern part of the galaxy cluster Abell 1758 show the effects of a collision between two smaller galaxy clusters. Chandra X-ray data reveal hot gas in the cluster and data from the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India shows huge "halos" generated by ultra-relativistic particles and magnetic fields over vast scales. Optical data from the Digitized Sky Survey are colored gold. A study of this galaxy cluster and 31 others with Chandra and the GMRT shows that huge radio halos are generated during collisions between galaxy clusters.
(Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/SAO/M.Markevitch); Radio (TIFR/GMRTSAO/INAF/R.Cassano, S.Giacintucci); Optical (DSS))