Early galaxy cluster SPT2349-56 shows gas far hotter than expected.

A Canadian-led team using ALMA observed SPT2349-56 about 12 billion years ago and found a compact infant cluster of more than 30 galaxies surrounded by gas far hotter than models predicted.

Researchers led by a Canadian team used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to observe the infant galaxy cluster SPT2349-56. They looked back roughly 12 billion years to an early stage of the universe. SPT2349-56 contains more than 30 young, active galaxies gathered into a region about 500,000 light years across. The cluster is surrounded by gas reported as much hotter than astronomers expected for such an early, compact system. Known details: - The observation was made with ALMA at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. - SPT2349-56 is seen as it was about 12 billion years in the past. - The system contains over 30 young, active galaxies packed into roughly 500,000 light years. - The surrounding gas temperature is reported as far hotter than assumed for early galaxy clusters. - Researchers report the finding challenges assumptions about how galaxy clusters form. Summary: The observation suggests intracluster gas in the early universe could reach higher temperatures than standard models expect, which may affect ideas about cluster formation. Undetermined at this time.