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X-ray & Optical Images of the Spiderweb Galaxy Field
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF/P. Tozzi et al; Optical (Subaru): NAOJ/NINS; Optical (HST): NASA/STScI)
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/INAF/P. Tozzi et al; Optical (Subaru): NAOJ/NINS; Optical (HST): NASA/STScI)
Data from Chandra reveal feasting and growing black holes throughout the cosmic web that surrounds a central galaxy. Nicknamed the "Spiderweb" because of its appearance in optical light images, J1140-2629 is part of a larger system that is evolving into a galaxy cluster, one of the largest structures in the Universe. The X-rays show how many black holes are rapidly growing at this critical epoch in the Universe, over 10 billion years ago. The images here show full field and close-up Chandra data as well as optical data from the Subaru telescope in Hawaii.
Return to: Feasting Black Holes Caught in Galactic Spiderweb (March 31, 2022)
Revised: November 29, 2022