Abell 2261

Abell 2261
Abell 2261
Observation data (Epoch 2000)
Constellation(s)	Hercules
Right ascension	17^h 22^m
Declination	+32° 08′
Redshift	0.224
Distance	909 Mpc (3 Gly) h^−1 0.70
ICM temperature	7.6 ± 0.30 keV
Binding mass	2.9 ± 0.5×10^14 h^−1 0.70 M☉
X-ray luminosity	18.0 ± 0.2 ×10^44 erg s^−1 (bolometric)

Abell 2261 is one of 25 galaxy clusters being studied as part of the Cluster Lensing And Supernova survey with Hubble (CLASH) program, a major project to build a library of scientific data on lensing clusters.[1]

It also has the galaxy A2261-BCG (short for Abell 2261 Brightest Cluster Galaxy) which has one of the largest galaxy cores ever observed.[2]

In January 2021, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope were reported to be unable to locate a supermassive black hole presumed to be at the center of the galaxy.[3] A newer and larger space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope, launched in December 2021, may help determine the object's whereabouts, according to the astronomers.[3]

References

1. "NASA - Monster Galaxy May Have Been Stirred Up By Black-hole Mischief". www.nasa.gov. October 25, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
2. "Monster Galaxy's Core Is Biggest Ever Seen". www.space.com. October 26, 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-15.
3. Overbye, Dennis (19 January 2021). "Missing: One Black Hole With 10 Billion Solar Masses - One of the biggest galaxies in the universe seems to lack its dark centerpiece". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2021.