News Astronomy

In a first, magnetic fields have been spotted between two galaxy clusters

The finding suggests large structures in the cosmic web are magnetized

galaxy clusters Abell 0399 and Abell 0401

MAGNETIC CONNECTION Two distant galaxy clusters, Abell 0399 (left) and Abell 0401 (right), are connected by magnetic fields containing high-energy electrons. X-rays from the cluster cores are shown in purple, and radio emission from the magnetic bridge forms the blue-toned smear in between. 

DSS, Pan-STARRS1, XMM-Newton, PLANCK satellite, F. Govoni, M. Murgia, INAF, Cjbeards, ASTRON

By Maria Temming

- More than 2 years ago

For the first time, astronomers have sighted magnetic fields between two galaxy clusters — a find that suggests some of the largest scale structures in the universe are magnetized.