Globular Cluster 47 Tucanae
Explanation:
Stars come in bunches.
Of the over 200
globular star clusters
that orbit the center of our
Milky Way Galaxy,
47 Tucanae is the second brightest
globular cluster
(behind
Omega Centauri).
Known to some affectionately as
47 Tuc or NGC 104, it is only visible from the
Southern Hemisphere.
Light takes about 20,000 years to reach us from 47 Tuc
which can be seen near the
SMC in the constellation of
Tucana.
Red Giant stars
are particularly easy to see
in this picture.
The dynamics of stars near the
center of 47 Tuc are not well understood,
particularly why there are so few
binary systems there.
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.
