MIT astronomers have discovered new clusters of galaxies through the Flat Vision Clusters (CHiPS) study.
MIT astronomers have discovered new clusters of unidentified galaxies that have been overlooked in previous studies. The results, recently published in The Astrophysical Journal, suggest that 1 percent of galaxy clusters can be misidentified as a single bright galaxy.
Clusters of galaxies containing hundreds or even thousands of separate galaxies are held together by gravity. These clusters move through a sea of hot gas called an intra-cluster environment and emit X-ray radiation that we can see using space-based telescopes. This radiation creates a blur around clusters of galaxies, making it easier for them to be identified against an object that has a single source of X-rays, such as stars or quasars.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Michael McDonald of MIT discovered in 2012 that not all clusters adhere to this general principle. This cluster, called the Phoenix cluster, contains a black hole that emits X-rays bright enough to suppress radiation from the intra-cluster environment. Therefore, the clusters looked like a single source of X-rays and had been misclassified for decades.
With this new possibility, the equipped, Flat-Sight Clusters (CHiPS) research has come to life. During the six-year study, the study identified three new clusters of galaxies, one of which resembled a Phoenix cluster. This is noteworthy, given that astronomers know only a few Phoenix-style clusters.
It is hoped that the results of the CHiPS research will help them better understand how to search for clusters, such as those working with the eROSITA X-ray device.
Nasa researchers, on the other hand, have developed a new technique to search for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations that could potentially live in nearby star systems.