Abell 2261

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Abell 2261
Galaxy Cluster Abell 2261.jpg
Abell 2261
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation(s) Hercules
Right ascension 17h 22m 26.9s [1]
Declination +32° 07′ 58″ [1]
Redshift 0.224
Distance 909  Mpc (3  Gly) h −1
0.70
ICM temperature 7.6 ± 0.30 keV
Binding mass 2.9 ± 0.5×1014 h −1
0.70  M☉
X-ray luminosity 18.0 ± 0.2 ×1044 erg s−1 (bolometric)

Abell 2261 is one of 25 galaxy clusters being studied as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) program, a major project to build a library of scientific data on lensing clusters. [2]

It also has the galaxy A2261-BCG (short for Abell 2261 Brightest Cluster Galaxy) which has one of the largest galaxy cores ever observed. [3]

In January 2021, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope were reported to be unable to locate a supermassive black hole presumed to be at the center of the galaxy. [4] A newer and larger space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, may help determine the object's whereabouts, according to the astronomers. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Abell 2261". SIMBAD . Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg . Retrieved 2025-03-19.
  2. ↑ "NASA - Monster Galaxy May Have Been Stirred Up By Black-hole Mischief". www.nasa.gov. October 25, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  3. ↑ "Monster Galaxy's Core Is Biggest Ever Seen". www.space.com. October 26, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
  4. 1 2 Overbye, Dennis (19 January 2021). "Missing: One Black Hole With 10 Billion Solar Masses - One of the biggest galaxies in the universe seems to lack its dark centerpiece". The New York Times . Retrieved 19 January 2021.


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