spacetoday.net: Galaxy cluster produces stars at record-setting rate

Posted: Thu, Aug 16, 2012, 9:39 AM ET (1339 GMT)
Phoenix cluster illustration (Chandra X-Ray Obs.)

A galaxy cluster over five billion light-years from Earth is producing new stars a rate never before seen, a finding that may validate models of such clusters. The Phoenix cluster, also known as SPT-CLJ2344-4243, was discovered by astronomers in 2010. Follow-up observations by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and other telescopes showed that the central galaxy in the cluster is creating about 750 stars the six of the Sun each year. Astronomers had previously theorized that such galaxy clusters should generate large numbers of stars as gas trapped in the cluster cools and condenses, but observations of other clusters showed a far smaller rate of star production: the previous record was only 100-150 stars per year.