Chandra Release - October 31, 2017

Visual Description: MACS J1149.5+2233

The X-ray, optical and radio image of the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2233 depicts a complex cosmic event, where a system of galaxy clusters are in the process of merging. In the center-right of the image, there is a bright blue object that stands out due to its contrast against the darker background. This blue object can be likened to a glowing balloon if slightly rectangular in shape, and gaseous. It looks illuminated by galaxies and other sources of light within it. It has an elongated and slightly rectangular shape. Surrounding the blue object, there are numerous small white dots, which represent individual galaxies around it and smears of purple here and there. This image of MACS J1149 combines X-rays from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (diffuse emission colored in blue), optical data from Hubble (optical background), and radio emission from the Very Large Array (pink). The image is about four million light years across at the distance of MACS J1149.