Credit & Copyright: P. Seitzer
(U. Michigan)
Explanation:
Pictured above is the largest ball of stars in our Galaxy. About 10
million stars orbit the center of this
globular cluster - named
Omega Centauri - as this giant
globular cluster orbits the center of
our Galaxy. Recent evidence indicates that
Omega
Centauri is by far the most massive of the about
160 globular
clusters in the Milky Way.
The stars in globular clusters are
generally older, redder and less massive than our Sun. Studying globular clusters tells us about the
history of our Galaxy and the
age of the universe.
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.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day