Phoenix Cluster
The Phoenix Cluster (SPT-CL J2344-4243) is a massive, Abell class type I galaxy cluster located at its namesake, southern constellation of Phoenix. It was initially detected in 2010 during a 2,500 square degree survey of the southern sky using the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect by the South Pole Telescope collaboration. It is one of the most massive galaxy clusters known, with the mass on the order of 2×1015 M☉, and is the most luminous X-ray cluster discovered, producing more X-rays than any other known massive cluster. It is located at a comoving distance of 8.61 billion light-years (2.64 gigaparsecs) from Earth. About 42 member galaxies were identified and currently listed in the SIMBAD Astronomical Database, though the real number may be as high as 1,000.
| Phoenix Cluster | |
|---|---|
The Phoenix Cluster, seen in this multiwavelength composite image of X-ray and visible light overlays. Note the two vast outer cavities, seen as large holes in the blue emission. Less pronounced inner cavities are to the top right and bottom left of the central galaxy, the brightest object in the image. | |
| Observation data (Epoch J2000.0) | |
| Constellation(s) | Phoenix |
| Right ascension | 23h 44m 40.9s |
| Declination | −42° 41′ 54″ |
| Brightest member | Phoenix A (mag 18.2) |
| Number of galaxies | 42 known |
| Redshift | 0.597320±0.000150 (center) |
| Distance | 2,640.6 ± 184.8 megaparsecs (8.61 ± 0.60 billion light-years) (present comoving) 1,796.38 megaparsecs (5.86 billion light-years) (light-travel) |
| Binding mass | (1.26–2.5)×1015 M☉ |
| Other designations | |
| Phoenix Cluster, SPT-CL J 2344 -4243, SPT-CL J2344-4243 | |