Currently, sci.esa.int is under review and not being updated. For the latest information and news from ESA science missions and scientific results, please visit esa.int. For a comprehensive overview of ESA’s Science Programme and its missions, please refer to science.esa.int. For in-depth technical information aimed at ESA's scientific communities, you may also wish to consult cosmos.esa.int.

Asset Publisher

Back Abell 2390

Abell 2390


Date: 25 July 2008
Satellite: Hubble Space Telescope
Depicts: ACS image of Abell 2390
Copyright: NASA, ESA, and Johan Richard (Caltech, USA)
Acknowledgement: Davide de Martin & James Long (ESA/Hubble)

Located 2.7 billion light-years from the Earth (redshift 0.23), Abell 2390 is located in the constellation Pegasus. The large arcs seen around the central cluster are distortions of other objects located behind Abell 2390, the light from which is bent and magnified as it passes by the galaxy cluster. When a massive galaxy cluster acts as a lens, like in these new Hubble images, arcs and arclets of light are formed. The images come in different sizes and shapes depending on how distant they are from us and each other and how close the source light passes by the galaxy cluster itself. The extent to which the image is distorted and the number of copies of the background object created depend on the alignment between the galaxy cluster and the distant body.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
13-Apr-2026 12:13 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/WLGLyLw

Latest Selection

Also Available As

Related Images

Related Videos

Caption & Press Release

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation