November 2, 2024

Purple Haze: XRISM’s Breakthrough Imaging of Galaxy Cluster Abell 2319

Credit: JAXA/NASA/XRISM Xtend; background, DSSJAXAs XRISM mission supplies a groundbreaking image of the Abell 2319 galaxy cluster, using X-ray and noticeable light to reveal its elaborate structure and dynamics, enhancing our cosmic understanding.This pioneering, single-shot image is one of the first from JAXAs XRISM mission. Xtends unique ability to record the whole cluster in a single shot promises a significant step forward in our understanding of the large-scale structure of the Universe.The image from XRISM (revealed in purple) has actually been overlaid on a visible-light image from a ground-based telescope. Many of the orange blobs in the visible-light image are galaxies that form part of the cluster.The XRISM image was taken with the missions Xtend instrument, which uses a CCD cam to image extended X-ray discharging celestial sources and their surroundings.