Globular Cluster M3
Explanation:
This huge ball of stars predates our Sun.
Long before mankind evolved,
before dinosaurs roamed,
and even before our Earth existed, ancient globs of stars condensed
and orbited a young
Milky Way Galaxy.
Of the
250
or so globular clusters
that survive today,
M3
is one of the largest and brightest,
easily visible
in the Northern hemisphere with binoculars.
M3 contains about half a million stars, most of which are old and
red. The existence of young blue stars in M3 once posed a mystery,
but these
blue
stragglers are now thought to form via stellar interactions.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
