Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Draco (Dra)
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Abell 2218, Hans van Overzee
Abell 2218
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Abell 2218

Revision title: A crop of Abell 2218

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Abell 2218, Hans van Overzee
Abell 2218
Powered byPixInsight

Abell 2218

Revision title: A crop of Abell 2218

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Description

Abell 2218 magnitude 17,7, a galaxy cluster in Draco that exists approximately out of 10,000 galaxies. Most of these galaxies are eliptical. The redshift  is z = 0,174, distance 719 MPc or 2.35 billion light years.This cluster works as a gravitional lens for further distant  galaxies. We can see the cluster if we go down from the two star triangles to the left corner, were is a bright star. The cluster is halve way between these two.The Hubble Telescope has made some beautiful pictures from this cluster and the gravitational lenses. 2,35 billion years ago life on Earth was very primitive and there was  hardly no oxygen in the atmosphere also no van Allen Belt. For me this is mind blowing that I can see this cluster with my refractor in my back yard  (Bortle 6)  and go so far back in time.

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