Tag Archives: Spherical

Hubble Space Telescope Reveals Breathtaking Images of Ancient Spherical Clusters

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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

Hubble’s Close-Up of the Spherical Cluster Messier 72

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As part of Hubble’s 35th anniversary ceremony, astronomers have acquired a stunning new image of a rich collection of scattered stars. Messier 72.

This Hubble image shows the Messier 72, a spherical cluster about 50,000 light years away in the constellation of Aquarius. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/A. Sarajedini / G. Piotto / M. libralato.

Spherical clusters are a very old star system, coupled to a single structure, about 100-200 light-years by gravity.

They contain hundreds of thousands, or perhaps million stars. Large masses at the center of the rich stars in the cluster pull the stars inward to form a ball of stars.

Spherical clusters are one of the oldest known objects in the universe and are relics from the first era of the Galactic Layer.

It is believed that all galaxies have a population of spherical clusters. Our Milkyway Galaxy hosts at least 150 such objects, and could be hidden behind the thick disks of the Galaxy.

Messier 72 is It was located It is about 50,000 light years away from Earth, the constellation of Aquarius.

This spherical cluster, also known as the M72 or NGC 6981, is almost 9.5 billion years old.

Its apparent size is 9.4, and appears as a faint patch of light on a small telescope. The best time to observe it is September.

Messier 72 was the first one I discovered it In 1780, by Pierre Messine, a French astronomer and colleague of Charles Messier.

It is the first of the five-star clusters Mechine discovers while assisting Messier, and one of the most remote clusters in Messier’s catalog.

“Messier 72 is a particularly special target as it was the first image to be released in the Hubble Picture of the Week series on April 22, 2010,” Hubble Astronomers said in a statement.

“For 15 years, our team has been publishing new Hubble images every Monday for everyone to enjoy.”

“This has added nearly 800 images to the vast Hubble Image Archive over the years.”

“The impressive variety of star colours in the new Messier 72 images, especially compared to the original image, is the result of adding UV observations to previous visible light data,” they added.

“Colors indicate different types of stars.”

“The blue star is a cluster star originally larger, and after burning much of its hydrogen fuel, it now reaches a hotter temperature. The bright red object is a low-mass star that is now a red giant.”

“Studying these different groups will help you understand the spherical clusters and how the galaxies in which they were born were first formed.”

Source: www.sci.news