[▲ Globular Cluster “NGC 6540” (Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen)]
This is a globular cluster about 18,000 light years away in the direction of Sagittarius.「NGC 6540」is. A globular cluster is a celestial body in which tens of thousands to millions of stars are gathered in a spherical shape. About 150 globular clusters have been discovered so far in the Milky Way galaxy. With countless multicolored stars shining across the field of view, it’s like peering into a jewel box full of jewels.
In the direction of “Sagittarius” where NGC 6540 is located, the bulge of stars in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy“Galaxy Bulge”there is.Not only stars but also gas and dust gather in the bulge.dark nebulaare connected like a belt.Dust emits light emitted from stars (especially blue light with short wavelengths).absorption/scatteringBecause it has the property of being easy to make, it blocks the light from the star or changes it so that it looks redder than it actually is.
however,Visible red light and near-infrared lightSome wavelengths such asRelatively easy to pass through dustTherefore, it is useful for observing celestial objects beyond the dust. This image of NGC 6540 seen toward the center of the Milky Way Galaxy was created using images acquired at infrared wavelengths in addition to visible light.By the way, the cross-shaped light seen in some stars is due to light diffracted by spiders (beams) that support the secondary mirror of the telescope.“diffraction spike”is called.
The image at the beginning is“Hubble”mounted on a space telescope“Advanced camera for comet hunting observation (ACS)”and“Wide field camera 3 (WFC3)”It was created from images acquired using , and was released by the European Space Agency (ESA) as Hubble Space Telescope Picture of the Week on August 15, 2022.
connection:The center of a globular cluster filled with starlight.Taken by the Hubble Space Telescope
Source
- Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen
- ESA / Hubble – Hubble Spies a Scintillating Globular Cluster
Text/Matsumura Takehiro