Image List

Using Chandra, XMM-Newton, the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, and the Apache Point Observatory, a team of astronomers has studied two galaxy groups that are smashing into each other at a remarkable speed of about 4 million miles per hour. This system, known as NGC 6338, could represent the most violent collision yet seen between two galaxy groups. This composite image contains X-ray data from Chandra (red) that shows hot gas with temperatures upward of about 20 million degrees Celsius, as well as cooler gas detected with Chandra and XMM-Newton (blue) that also emits X-rays. The X-ray data have been combined with optical data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in this image.