Abell Galaxy Cluster 1656

Almost all observers are well aware of then Virgo cluster of galaxies. That huge swarm of over 1000 galaxies that straddles the Coma Berenices-Virgo region. However not so well known is that there is another equally large cluster in Coma Berenices known as The Coma Cluster or Abell Galaxy Cluster 1656. The main reason that this galaxy cluster is not so well known is that the cluster is nearly 10 times further away than the Virgo cluster, at a distance of over 400 million light years. This means that most of the members of the cluster are small and faint. The brightest members are the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4889 and 4874.

Telescope: Planewave 17" f6.7 on a Planewave HD Mount Camera: SBIG 16803

Taken at Stellar Winds Observatory, a/k/a Stan Watson Observatory in Animas, NM.

Exposure: L,R,G,B 420,280,280,280