Abell 1351: a peculiar galaxy cluster

04/06/2014

Abell 1351 is a galaxy cluster that shows a radio halo with a quite irregular shape and very large velocity dispersions. An international team of astronomers led by Rafael Barrena, SO postdoc at the IAC, has analyzed X-ray and optical data of this cluster, as well as spectra for ~100 member galaxies, in order to probe its internal structure and dynamics. Their results suggest that Abell 1351 is a massive merging cluster, with two main subclusters and other minor substructures, all tracing the N–S cluster elongation. The work has been published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.