Globular Cluster M3 from WIYN
Explanation:
This huge ball of stars predates our Sun.
Long before humankind evolved, before
dinosaurs roamed,
and even before our Earth existed, ancient globs of
stars condensed and orbited a young
Milky Way Galaxy.
Of the
200 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.
Light takes about 100,000 years to reach us from
M3,
which spans about 150
light years.
The
above picture is a composite of blue and red images.
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.
