Archaeologists of the Universe

Click to Enlarge

Astronomers and archaeologists (like Indiana Jones) have a lot in common, as they both look for clues to understand past events. However, while archaeologists have to dig deep underground to find fossils and ruins, all astronomers have to do is look up to the night sky. That’s because when we look at objects in the night sky, we are seeing them as they looked when the light they gave off started its long journey across the Universe to us!

This means that each view of the Universe reveals a snapshot of the Universe’s history. Take this new picture, for example. It shows the aftermath of a collision between two huge groups of galaxies, which are called galaxy clusters. Following the collision, the galaxy clusters joined together to form what is now called the Musket Ball Cluster. In the picture, astronomers have coloured some parts blue and pink to show where different types of material are found.

Credit:

Share: