X-ray, Radio, and Optical Images of the Phoenix Cluster
The Phoenix galaxy cluster contains the first confirmed supermassive black hole that is unable to prevent large numbers of stars from forming in the core of the galaxy cluster where it resides. These images show X-rays detected with Chandra from hot gas and radio emission detected with the VLA from jets produced by the black hole. Optical light data from Hubble show galaxies and filaments of cooler gas where stars are forming. This result givesnew details about the dramatic effects that black holes can have on the galaxy clusters where they are found.
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MIT/M.McDonald et al.; Radio: NRAO/VLA; Optical: NASA/STScI)