What are the main components of a galaxy cluster?
The main components of a galaxy cluster are hundreds to thousands of galaxies, vast amounts of hot, ionized gas known as the intracluster medium (ICM), and dark matter, which constitutes the majority of the cluster's total mass and influences its gravitational dynamics.
How do galaxy clusters form?
Galaxy clusters form through the gravitational attraction and merging of smaller structures, such as groups of galaxies and individual galaxies, over billions of years. These processes, driven by dark matter and baryonic matter, occur within the large-scale cosmic web structure of the universe.
How do scientists measure the distances to galaxy clusters?
Scientists measure the distances to galaxy clusters using methods such as redshift measurements, which rely on the expansion of the universe, and standard candles like Type Ia supernovae or the Tully-Fisher relation, which link the luminosity and rotation speed of spiral galaxies to determine distance.
What role do galaxy clusters play in the large-scale structure of the universe?
Galaxy clusters act as the building blocks of the universe's large-scale structure, representing the densest parts of the cosmic web. They are gravitationally bound collections of galaxies, gas, and dark matter, tracing the filamentary structure that reveals the distribution of matter and the influence of dark energy.
How do galaxy clusters interact with their environment?
Galaxy clusters interact with their environment through gravitational influence, attracting surrounding gas and smaller galaxies. They can induce galaxy mergers and trigger star formation within those galaxies. Through ram pressure stripping, galaxy clusters remove gas from infalling galaxies, affecting their ability to form stars. Additionally, clusters impact the cosmic web by altering the distribution of dark matter and gas.