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Image Credit: Earthsky
The Coma Berenices galaxy cluster, best in April and May
- The Coma Berenices galaxy cluster is a dense grouping of thousands of galaxies visible in the constellation Coma Berenices, best viewed in the evening in April and May.
- Located approximately 320 million light-years away, the cluster spans about 20 million light-years in space, housing galaxies of various shapes and sizes.
- The Coma Berenices cluster contains as many as 10,000 galaxies, making it one of the most populated galaxy clusters known to scientists.
- Elliptical galaxies are prominent in the cluster, with giant ellipticals like NGC 4889 and NGC 4874 being two to three times larger than the Milky Way.
- Dark matter was discovered in the Coma Berenices galaxy cluster by Fritz Zwicky in the 1930s, indicating its significant mass contribution to the universe.
- The cluster's center is located at approximately RA: 12h 59m, dec: +27° 59′ and is moving away from us at over 15 million mph (24 million kph).
- Telescopes reveal a myriad of galaxies in the Coma Berenices cluster, with elliptical galaxies dominating the central region and spiral galaxies found farther out.
- The region of the sky where the cluster is located is known as the Realm of the Galaxies, showcasing the vastness and complexity of this galactic grouping.
- The Coma Berenices galaxy cluster played a significant role in the discovery of dark matter, a mysterious substance that affects the universe's evolution and fate.
- Although not visible to the naked eye, the cluster's historical and scientific importance underscores its unique place in understanding the cosmos.
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