Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/INAF/G.Brunetti et al.); Radio (NRAO/NSF/INAF/G.Brunetti et al.)

A composite image of X-ray data from Chandra (colored blue) and radio emission from the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (orange) of Abell 521 is shown here. The elongated shape of the X-ray emission suggests that the cluster has undergone a violent collision with another group or cluster of galaxies. A variation of brightness between longer and shorter radio waves at the center of the cluster also supports the theory that a major collision has occurred in this cluster.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2008/a521/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html