Intracluster Light in MACS J0416

This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows the galaxy cluster MACS J0416. This is one of six galaxy clusters being studied by the Hubble Frontier Fields program, which together have produced the deepest images of gravitational lensing ever made.

Scientists used intracluster light (visible in blue) to study the distribution of dark matter within the cluster.

About the colours

These images are composites of separate exposures acquired by the WFC3/IR and ACS/WFC instruments. Several filters were used to sample various wavelengths. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter. In this case, the assigned colors are: Blue: ACS/WFC F435W (B) + F606W (R) Green: ACS/WFC F814W (I) + WFC3/IR F105W (Y) Red: WFC3/IR F125W (J) + F140W (JH) + F160W (H).

About the data

MACS J0416 is part of the Frontier Fields Program. These data were observed via the HST proposals 12458 (PI: M. Postman, STScI), 13459 (PI: T. Treu, UCLA), 14037 (PI: J. Lotz, STScI), and 14209 (PI: B. Siana, UC Riverside).