https://phys.org/news/2023-09-large-cold-fronts-galaxy-cluster.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 94 * Twit * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Astronomy & Space 3. Astronomy * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- September 12, 2023 report Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked preprint trusted source proofread Two large cold fronts detected in the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 by Tomasz Nowakowski , Phys.org Two large cold fronts detected in the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 Background-subtracted, exposure-corrected XMM mosaicked image of the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 in the 0.7-1.2 keV energy band. The white circle marks the location of the r[500] radius and the black curved line shows the location of the inner cold front. The two newly identified outer edges, one at 600 kpc from the core to the south-east and the other at 1.2 Mpc from the core to the north-west, are highlighted with arrows. Credit: arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/ arxiv.2308.16222 Astronomers from the University of Alabama in Huntsville have investigated the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 using ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft. In their results, they detected two large-scale sloshing cold fronts in the outskirts of this cluster. The finding was reported in a paper published August 30 on the pre-print server arXiv . Galaxy clusters contain up to thousands of galaxies bound together by gravity. They are the largest known gravitationally bound structures in the universe, and could serve as excellent laboratories for studying galaxy evolution and cosmology. At a redshift of 0.048, Abell 3558 is one of the clusters in the Abell 3558 cluster complex located in the Shapley Supercluster. It has a mass of about 980 trillion solar masses and a radius of some 5.2 million light years. Previous observations of Abell 3558 have found a cold front at a distance of approximately 320,000 light years to the north-west of the cluster's core. In general, the so-called cold fronts are sharp surface brightness discontinuities observed in X-ray images, where the drop of the surface brightness and gas density is accompanied by a jump in the gas temperature, with the denser region colder than the more rarefied region. The cold front detected in Abell 3558 is assumed to be due to large-scale sloshing, induced by a passage of a small galaxy group, likely SC 1327-312, or by an off-axis merger with a more massive system. A team of astronomers led by Mohammad Mirakhor has analyzed archival XMM-Newton images of Abell 3558 in order to shed more light on this cold front, what resulted in the discovery of two new such features. The researchers identified two abrupt surface brightness discontinuities at large-scale radii outside the core of Abell 3558 that have not been reported previously. One of them is located about 2 million light years from the cluster core to the south-east and the other is situated approximately 4 million light years from the cluster core to the north-west. The spectral analysis confirmed that these two discontinuities are in fact large-scale cold fronts. Based on the collected data, the astronomers estimate that the cold front in the south-east direction is about 8.5 billion years old. The discovery made by Mirakhor's team makes Abell 3558 one of only a few galaxy clusters that host three or more cold fronts. Moreover, the outermost cold front turned out to be one of the most distant cold fronts ever observed in a galaxy cluster, being located at a greater distance from the core than most of the large-scale sloshing cold fronts observed in galaxy clusters. According to the authors of the paper, their discovery suggests that sloshing can extend well beyond the cooling radius of a galaxy cluster, what means that it is a cluster-wide phenomenon. More information: M. S. Mirakhor et al, Two large-scale sloshing cold fronts in the outskirts of the galaxy cluster Abell 3558, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2308.16222 Journal information: arXiv (c) 2023 Science X Network Citation: Two large cold fronts detected in the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 (2023, September 12) retrieved 21 September 2023 from https:// phys.org/news/2023-09-large-cold-fronts-galaxy-cluster.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Complex galaxy cluster Abell 119 explored by researchers --------------------------------------------------------------------- 95 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors [INS::INS] * Featured * Last Comments * Popular Box of donated artifacts turns out to be treasure trove of Neanderthal bones 6 hours ago 0 New Type I supernova discovered with JWST 9 hours ago 0 A model probing the connection between entangled particles and wormholes in general relativity 12 hours ago 1 Some stick insects that normally reproduce through parthenogenesis found to mate on occasion Sep 20, 2023 0 Experiments on fossilized insects help reveal their true colors Sep 20, 2023 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Quiet cables set to help reveal rare physics events 2 hours ago [gif] Jewel of the forest: New electric blue tarantula species discovered in Thailand 2 hours ago [gif] Nanoparticle vaccine candidate shows promise against emerging tick-borne virus in early studies 2 hours ago [gif] Hidden ocean the source of carbon dioxide on Jupiter moon: Research 4 hours ago [gif] Curbing violence in Mexico: Disrupting cartel recruitment holds the key, new study finds 5 hours ago [gif] Using harmless light to change azobenzene molecules with new supramolecular complex 5 hours ago [gif] The dance of organ positioning: A tango of three proteins 5 hours ago [gif] Global study reveals extensive impact of metal mining contamination on rivers and floodplains 5 hours ago [gif] Conversations with plants: Can we provide plants with advance warning of impending dangers? 5 hours ago [gif] Researchers reveal origins of zirconium nitride's superior performance 6 hours ago [INS::INS] * Related Stories [gif] Complex galaxy cluster Abell 119 explored by researchers Aug 17, 2023 [gif] European astronomers detect new component of radio halo in a nearby galaxy cluster Aug 23, 2023 [gif] Radio observations inspect galaxy cluster Abell 1413 Aug 14, 2023 [gif] Study sheds more light on the diffuse radio emission from the galaxy cluster Abell 1213 Mar 14, 2023 [gif] Galaxy cluster Abell 3158 inspected in X-rays Jul 6, 2021 [gif] Image: Hubble captures cosmic cluster Aug 19, 2023 * Recommended for you [gif] New Type I supernova discovered with JWST 9 hours ago [gif] Astronomers investigate spectral evolution of XTE J1810-189 Sep 20, 2023 [gif] NASA team simulates a glimpse of our galaxy in gravitational waves Sep 20, 2023 [gif] James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA capture the core of the most distant galaxy protocluster Sep 20, 2023 [gif] Black holes eat faster than previously expected: New finding might explain why quasars flare and fade so quickly Sep 20, 2023 [gif] Turkish astronomers investigate open cluster NGC 2509 Sep 19, 2023 Load comments (1) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Two large cold fronts detected in the galaxy cluster Abell 3558 Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Donate and enjoy an ad-free experience We keep our content available to everyone. Consider supporting Science X's mission by getting a premium account. Remove ads Maybe later Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Premium Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2023 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use Your Privacy This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Ok Cookie options E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast