Highlights of Galaxy Cluster Abell 3667 in Pavo | Victor Blanco Telescope
Abell 3667—an actively merging galaxy cluster—is featured in this image assembled from over 28 hours of observations with the 570-megapixel Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera, mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. This collage shows examples of Abell 3667's interesting features.
1. Jellyfish Galaxy JO171
Similar to the iconic Hoag’s Object, JO171 is an example of a ring galaxy, characterized by a completely detached ring of young stars surrounding a central old spheroid. JO171’s fall into the dense Abell 3667 galaxy cluster is stripping it of gas, creating the striking jellyfish-like tendrils seen trailing off to one side of the galaxy. Analysis of the galaxy’s stellar population and its gas and stellar dynamics shows that the origin of the ring is related to an interaction with another galaxy in the distant past, prior to its accretion onto Abell 3667. More recently, since infall into the cluster, the gas in the ring has been stripped by ram pressure, causing the quenching of star formation in the stripped half of the ring. This is the first observed case of ram-pressure stripping in action in a ring galaxy. Both of the events (accretion and stripping) caused dramatic transformations in this galaxy.
Similar to the iconic Hoag’s Object, JO171 is an example of a ring galaxy, characterized by a completely detached ring of young stars surrounding a central old spheroid. JO171’s fall into the dense Abell 3667 galaxy cluster is stripping it of gas, creating the striking jellyfish-like tendrils seen trailing off to one side of the galaxy. Analysis of the galaxy’s stellar population and its gas and stellar dynamics shows that the origin of the ring is related to an interaction with another galaxy in the distant past, prior to its accretion onto Abell 3667. More recently, since infall into the cluster, the gas in the ring has been stripped by ram pressure, causing the quenching of star formation in the stripped half of the ring. This is the first observed case of ram-pressure stripping in action in a ring galaxy. Both of the events (accretion and stripping) caused dramatic transformations in this galaxy.
2. Jellyfish Galaxy LEDA 64246
LEDA 64246 is another example of extended galaxy tails formed by ram-pressure stripping. Their blue glow indicates that the stripping has triggered star formation in the trails.
LEDA 64246 is another example of extended galaxy tails formed by ram-pressure stripping. Their blue glow indicates that the stripping has triggered star formation in the trails.
3. Brightest cluster galaxy IC 4965 and infalling group
The central galaxy in this cutout is referred to as the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). The formation of BCGs has been an astronomical mystery for decades. The mystery has been partially answered by the detection of intracluster light. This provides evidence that BCGs generally form through the gradual stripping of stars from less massive galaxies in the cluster, which then accrete onto the BCG.
The central galaxy in this cutout is referred to as the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG). The formation of BCGs has been an astronomical mystery for decades. The mystery has been partially answered by the detection of intracluster light. This provides evidence that BCGs generally form through the gradual stripping of stars from less massive galaxies in the cluster, which then accrete onto the BCG.
4. Seyfert Galaxy NGC 6862
NGC 6862 is a Seyfert galaxy that is partially obscured by Milky Way cirrus, or integrated flux nebulae.
NGC 6862 is a Seyfert galaxy that is partially obscured by Milky Way cirrus, or integrated flux nebulae.
Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Acknowledgment: PI: Anthony Englert (Brown University)
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Acknowledgment: PI: Anthony Englert (Brown University)
Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: Aug. 5, 2025
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