Astronomers show new photo of the Perseus cluster, one of the most massive objects in the nearby Universe

The Gemini North telescope has taken a new photo of the Perseus cluster, which is one of the most massive objects in the nearby Universe. The astronomical observatory located in Hawaii managed to capture this miracle.

In the center of the image is the elliptical galaxy NGC 1270, which glows softly against the dark background of space. Although it seems isolated, the galaxy is part of the much larger Perseus cluster, which lies at a distance of about 240 million light-years from us, SpaceDaily reports.

According to scientists, this photo, taken at the Gemini North Observatory, which is rotated atop Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii, shows only a fraction of the thousands of galaxies that form the cluster. The array of galaxies that can now be observed in high definition was once the subject of great astronomical debate.

When NGC 1270 was discovered in 1863, astronomers were not sure whether these objects were galaxies or just clouds of gas called nebulae. The question remained unresolved until Hubble's observations in 1924 proved that galaxies exist far beyond our Milky Way, radically changing our understanding of the cosmos.

Today, scientists are using advanced telescopes and imaging techniques to probe these galaxies deeper. For example, NGC 1270 contains a supermassive black hole, as evidenced by the powerful energy emissions from its core. This phenomenon is common in about 10% of galaxies.

Researchers are interested not only in individual galaxies but also in their collective behavior. The very existence of massive structures such as the Perseus cluster indicates the influence of dark matter, a mysterious invisible substance that is believed to hold galaxies together in clusters.

Scientists say that without dark matter, these galaxies would be more evenly distributed in space. Current theories suggest that dark matter forms a vast, interconnected network that attracts galaxies to each other by gravity.

Despite the important role of dark matter in shaping the cosmos, its true nature remains unknown. And it is thanks to detailed images from space that astronomers hope to make new discoveries and understand the secrets of the Universe.

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