Abell 2597 is a galaxy cluster located about a billion light years from Earth in the constellation of Aquarius.[3] It is a giant elliptical galaxy that is surrounded by a sprawling cluster of other galaxies.[4] In 2018, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) captured cosmic weather event using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) that has never been seen before - a cluster of towering intergalactic gas clouds raining in on the supermassive black hole at the center of the huge galaxy.[4][5] The black hole draws in vast store of cold molecular gas and sprays it back again in an ongoing cycle[6] so that it resembles a gigantic fountain.

Abell 2597
Artist’s concept showing condensing clouds of cold molecular gas around Abell 2597[1]
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Right ascension23h 25m 19.70s[2]
Declination−12° 07′ 27.07″
Redshift0.0852
Distance307 Mpc (1,001 Mly)
Other designations
ACO 2597, HMS 2323-1224, PSZ1 G065.33-64.85, 1RXS J232519.4-120741, BAX 351.3252-12.1083, 2MAXI J2324-121, RBS 2002, [DBG99] 125, ClG 2322.7-1224, MCXC J2325.3-1207, RXC J2325.3-1207, [F81] 432
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Black Hole Fed by Cold Intergalactic Deluge". www.eso.org. European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Search results for Abell 2597". SIMBAD Astronomical Database. UDS/CNRS. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  3. ^ ESO (November 6, 2018). "Abell 2597 in the Constellation of Aquarius". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  4. ^ a b "Galaxy-scale fountain seen in full glory | EarthSky.org". earthsky.org. 9 November 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  5. ^ Now, Astronomy. "Abell 2597 Brightest Cluster Galaxy – Astronomy Now". Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  6. ^ "Giant 'Fountain' of Cold Molecular Gas Offers Clues to How Galaxies Evolve | Astronomy | Sci-News.com". Sci-News.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  7. ^ "ALMA and MUSE Detect Galactic Fountain". www.eso.org. Retrieved 8 November 2018.