Cross correlation of the cosmic microwave background with radio sources: constraints on an accelerating universe.

We present a new limit on the cosmological constant based on the absence of correlations between the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and the distribution of distant radio sources. In cosmological constant, cold dark matter ( LambdaCDM) models, such correlations should have been produced via the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect, assuming that radio sources trace the local ( z approximately 1) matter density. We find no evidence of correlations and obtain a 95% C.L. upper limit on the cosmological constant of Omega(Lambda)< or =0.74. If 0.6

The central galaxy in abell 2029: an old supergiant.

A mosaic of images shows the extended structure of the cD galaxy that resides at the center of the rich cluster of galaxies Abell 2029. After correcting for the scattered light of nearby stars and galaxies, the faint halo of this giant can be traced out to a distance of more than 1 megaparsec, making it one of the largest and most luminous galaxies known. The smoothness of this halo suggests that it was formed early in the history of the cluster.