A Quick Look at Abell 2142

Astronomers have used data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to make heads and tails of a fascinating galactic system.

Abell 2142 is a galaxy cluster, one of the largest structures in the Universe, containing hundreds of galaxies and huge amounts of hot gas.

Chandra captured a smaller galaxy group, with a handful of galaxies, plummeting toward Abell 2142.

Behind this diving galaxy group is a long tail of X-rays extending for over a million light years.

By studying this system, astronomers can learn more about how the Universe's biggest objects have collided and grown over billions of years.