ASCA mapping observation of the Virgo cluster of galaxies Original Research Article

We present the results of the mapping observations of the northwest region of the Virgo cluster. The X-ray spectra can be represented by a single-temperature plasma. The temperature of the intracluster medium decreases with radius from 0′ to 50′, and it becomes almost constant beyond the 50′ radius. The metal abundances also decrease with radius from 0′ to 40′, then become constant beyond the radius of 40′. These temperature and abundance profiles can be clues to investigate the cluster formation history and cosmological parameters.