(Click Image to enlarge)
Abell Cluster 1656 in Coma Berenices
Many 15th and 16th magnitude galaxies in this image
5 1/2 hours total exposure (11 x 30 minutes)
AP155EDF/ST7E @-25deg C.
04Feb-05Feb2002
Backyard in Castro Valley, Ca.
Contained within Abell Cluster 1656 is the supergiant elliptical galaxy, NGC4889 which is approximately 400million light-years distant. It has the luminosity of about 330 billion Suns. Its major axis is about 330,000 light-years long. It is believed that NGC4889 got so big by absorbing nearby galaxies. Other galaxies in this cluster are mostly within a 100million light-year range of NGC4889.