Abell 1656 Annotated

Abell 1656 also known as the Coma Cluster is a group of around 1000 galaxies found in the spring constellation Coma Berencies. Along with Abell 1376 it is one of two major galaxy clusters making up the Coma Supercluster. Most points of light in this image are in fact galaxies not stars, most of them either dwarf or giant ellipticals, each made up of millions or billions of solar masses. Towards the center are the two giant elliptical galaxies NGC 4874 and 4889.

 

This is the furthest group of objects i have imaged at 321 million light years in distance. To put that into perspective, the light that hit my camera to make this image left the cluster when reptiles first started to evolve from amphibians. This is what this galaxy cluster looked like before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. To see what it looks like right now someone would need to take a picture of it again in another 321 million years.

 

To see the un-annotated version, click here: www.flickr.com/photos/80205804@N05/17012636620/in/photost...

 

Exposure Details:

88* 600 sec, f7, ISO 800

 

Total Exposure: 14.6 hours

 

Scope: Altair Astro 115EDT

Camera: Canon 600Da

Mount: NEQ6

Done