'Calm' Galaxy Cluster Hides a Violent Cosmic Scene that Took 4 Billion Years to Settle

A Galaxy Cluster's Sloshing Spiral Reveals the Story Behind a Chaotic Collision That Began Four Billion Years Ago

Learn about the turbulent history of Abell 2029, a galaxy cluster that experienced a collision with a smaller galaxy cluster about four billion years ago.

'Calm' galaxy cluster hides a violent cosmic scene that took 4 billion years to settle

The galaxy cluster Abell 2029 is sometimes described as "the most relaxed cluster in the universe." This moniker does not arise from some sort of mellow vibe, but rather because of how calm and undisturbed the superheated gas that pervades the cluster appears to be.

Galaxy Cluster "Relaxed Now, but Wild Before" | NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory

Galaxy Cluster "Relaxed Now, but Wild Before" | NASA Chandra X-ray ObservatoryThe galaxy cluster Abell 2029 has sometimes been described as “the most relaxed cluster in the Universe.” This moniker does not arise from a sort of mellow vibe, but rather because of how calm and undisturbed the superheated gas that pervades the cluster appeared to be.Now, new observations from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory clearly show that Abell 2029 had a much m…