A Vast Radio 'Bridge' Has Been Found Connecting 2 Galaxy Clusters About to Merge

Seldom Bucket

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A rare merger between clusters of galaxies has just revealed an even rarer sight. Astronomers have found a vast, low-frequency radio 'bridge' between the two, spanning a 6.5-million-light-year distance - evidence of a magnetic field connecting them in the early stage of the merging process.



It's only the second time such a radio bridge has been identified between merging galaxy clusters. But already it's providing some important clues as to how these bridges form.

The galaxy clusters are around 3 billion light-years away, in a group called Abell 1758. All up, four clusters are involved in the impending smash-up - two massive cluster pairs coming together.


 
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