Globular Cluster M2
Explanation:
Beneath the south pole of our
Milky Way Galaxy
lies a ball of over 100,000 stars.
M2, the second object on
Charles Messier's eighteenth century
list of bright diffuse sky objects, is known as a
globular cluster,
and orbits the center of our Galaxy like nearly
200 other globular clusters
left over from the early days of our universe.
M2,
pictured above, spans over 150 light-years, lies about 50,000
light-years away, and can be seen with
binoculars towards the
constellation of
Aquarius.
Determining the distances and ages to
globular clusters like
M2 constrains the
scale and
age of our entire universe.
Tomorrow's picture: Wheel
of Stars
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.
