Recent images from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope highlight NGC 1786, a spherical cluster located in the constellation of Dorado.
This Hubble image depicts NGC 1786, a spherical cluster approximately 163,000 light-years away in the Dorado constellation. The color images were created from various exposures captured in visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum using Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Three filters sampled different wavelengths. Colors were assigned by applying distinct hues to each monochromatic image related to individual filters. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/M. Monelli/M Hözsaraç.
Spherical clusters are ancient star systems, bound together by gravity, typically spanning around 100-200 light-years.
These clusters host hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of stars. The significant masses at the cluster’s core attract stars inward, forming a spherical configuration.
Considered among the universe’s oldest known objects, spherical clusters are remnants from the early Galactic era. It’s believed that all galaxies harbor a population of these structures.
The Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring dwarf galaxy located about 163,000 light-years away, possesses roughly 60 spherical clusters, including NGC 1786.
This spherical cluster, also referred to as ESO 56-39, was discovered on December 20, 1835, by the British astronomer John Herschel.
“Data from the new image is derived from spherical clusters within Milky Way galaxies, including the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, as well as Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxies,” stated Hubble astronomers.
“Our galaxy contains over 150 of these extensively studied ancient spherical formations.
“Due to its stability and longevity, it acts as a galactic time capsule, preserving stars from the galaxy’s formative stages.”
“While it was once believed that all stars in spherical clusters formed nearly simultaneously, our research on ancient clusters within our galaxy has revealed multiple populations of stars of varying ages,” they further explained.
“To utilize spherical clusters as historical markers, it’s essential to comprehend their formation and the origins of stars from different ages.”
“This observational program analyzed older spherical clusters like NGC 1786 in external galaxies to determine whether they contained multiple star populations.”
“Such studies can provide insights into the original formation mechanisms of the Large Magellanic Cloud as well as the Milky Way galaxy.”
Source: www.sci.news
