An in-depth look at the universe is offered to us by the VLT telescope, the world’s largest visible light telescope. Recently, it captured fascinating images of a galaxy cluster and revealed impressive cosmic interactions.
Observing galaxies is more than just stargazing; it is a form ofarcheology. By studying the appearance and interactions of a galaxy with its neighbors, astronomers can reconstruct its history. To do this, one of the most powerful tools at their disposal is the telescope VLT also called VSTbased at the ESO Paranal Observatory in Chile.
THE Very Large Telescope (VLT), in service since 2011, plays a crucial role in our understanding of the Universe. A recent example of its capabilities includes the observation of more than 80 young stars forming in regions near our galaxy. These photos show how the VLT can trace the evolution of our universe by capturing planetary forming disks.
The VLT reveals the cosmic mysteries of galaxy clusters
The VLT, the world’s largest visible light telescope, recently captured a series of triptych images, that is, three images arranged together to form a detailed panorama of each observed subject. Among these observations, the galaxy ESO 510-G13 particularly stands out. Located 150 million light years away in the constellation Hydra, it reveals a central halo and a S-shaped disc.
The S-shaped disk of the galaxy ESO 510-G13, for example, could be the result of a collision or a merger with another galaxy in the distant past. This type of configuration is often observed in galaxies that have undergone significant gravitational interactions that have led to deformations of their structures.
Another impressive image shows the compact group Hickson 90, located 100 million light years away in the southern Pisces constellation. This group is composed of four galaxies which share stars and gas, creating a luminous halo that connects them. This type of interaction is a fascinating example of the dynamics within small galaxy clusters.
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The most distant image captured by the VST is that of the cluster Abell 1689, located more than 2.3 billion light years away in the constellation Virgo. This cluster contains more than 200 galaxieswhose colossal mass distorts space-time around them, creating a gravitational lens that distorts the light of the galaxies behind. These extraordinary observations are valuable for the scientific community and promise new discoveries in the months to come.