Ancient, Massive Galaxy Cluster Harbors 800 Trillion Suns
Galaxy Cluster Heavyweight The huge galaxy cluster remained hidden until the South Pole Telescope spotted it by looking for distortions in the cosmic microwave background. The blue streak is a satellite passing through the field of view during the timed exposure. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Now that scientists are done making a map of the cosmic microwave background, they can use that detailed map to find hidden treasures from the ancient universe. Using the South Pole Telescope, they've just found a mother lode: the biggest galaxy cluster ever seen, harboring about 800 trillion suns inside hundreds of galaxies. The huge cluster remained hidden until SPT scientists spotted it by looking for distortions in the cosmic microwave background, the afterglow of the Big Bang. These distortions are created as background radiation passes through a large galaxy cluster, according to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The cluster, which is found in the southern constellation...