The galaxy and cluster lies at redshift z=0.0992, some 1.4×109 ly (4.3×108 pc) away.

[1][2][3][4] By studying this unique merging researchers can gain insight on dark matter, and how it interacts with other objects in space.

According to astrophysicists James Bullock, "Galaxy clusters that are merging with each other represent interesting laboratories for this kind of question,” when he was speaking of dark matter and the Bullet cluster.

Gravitational lensing studies of the Bullet Cluster are claimed to provide the best evidence to date for the existence of dark matter.

Observations of other galaxy cluster collisions, such as MACS J0025.4-1222, are similarly claimed to support the existence of dark matter.