Situated more than 8000 light-years away, the globular cluster NGC 6544 houses tens of thousands of stars. These celestial bodies were beautifully imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. The cluster lies within the Sagittarius constellation, nestled close to the immense Lagoon Nebula, an area filled with newly formed stars and concealed complex structures, as disclosed by earlier infrared studies. Image courtesy of: ESA/Hubble & NASA, W. Lewin, F. R. Ferraro.
The Hubble Space Telescope’s exploration of the star-filled NGC 6544 globular cluster, stationed more than 8000 light-years distant, was focused on pinpointing a visible radio pulsar and weak X-ray sources. These observations aim to deepen our understanding of the development of such clusters. Close to the expansive Lagoon Nebula, the cluster contains mysteries unveiled by infrared examinations of the nebula.
NGC 6544, a globular cluster teeming with stars, radiates vibrantly in this picture taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This tightly-knit cluster of stars, like all globular clusters, is a densely inhabited region containing tens of thousands of stars and lies more than 8000 light-years away from Earth.
This portrayal of NGC 6544 merges data from two of Hubble’s instruments — the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) — with findings from two distinct astronomical observations. The initial observation aimed to locate a visible counterpart to the radio pulsar detected in NGC 6544. A pulsar is a rapidly rotating relic of a deceased star, emitting twin beams of electromagnetic radiation akin to a gigantic cosmic lighthouse. This particular pulsar spins exceptionally fast, leading astronomers to employ Hubble in figuring out how this entity evolved within NGC 6544.
The second observation contributing data to this image also aimed to discover the visible equivalents of objects detected at other electromagnetic wavelengths. Instead of correlating sources to a pulsar, astronomers utilized Hubble to hunt for counterparts of dim X-ray sources. These observations may help elucidate how clusters like NGC 6544 evolve over time.
NGC 6544 is situated in the constellation Sagittarius, near the colossal Lagoon Nebula. This nebula is a sprawling maze of gas and dust, sculpted by the intense winds of newborn stars. The Lagoon Nebula is truly vast, measuring 55 light-years across and 20 light-years from top to bottom. Earlier images from Hubble, incorporating infrared observations, revealed the nebula’s newborn stars and intricate structures that would be hidden at visible wavelengths by clouds of gas and dust.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hubble Space Telescope exploration
What is the globular cluster NGC 6544?
The globular cluster NGC 6544 is a densely populated region of tens of thousands of stars located over 8000 light-years away from Earth. It is situated in the Sagittarius constellation near the Lagoon Nebula.
What was the purpose of Hubble’s observation of the NGC 6544?
Hubble’s observation of the NGC 6544 was aimed at identifying a visible radio pulsar and faint X-ray sources to gain insight into the evolution of such clusters.
What is a pulsar and why was Hubble looking for it in NGC 6544?
A pulsar is a rapidly spinning remnant of a dead star, emitting twin beams of electromagnetic radiation. The purpose of looking for a pulsar in NGC 6544 was to help determine how this object evolved in the cluster, offering insights into the life cycle of stars and the evolution of clusters.
What are the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)?
The ACS and WFC3 are two of Hubble’s instruments used for capturing detailed images of celestial bodies. They were used in the observations of NGC 6544 to identify a visible pulsar and faint X-ray sources.
What is the Lagoon Nebula and what is its relationship with NGC 6544?
The Lagoon Nebula is a vast region of gas and dust, sculpted by the winds of newly born stars. It is located close to the NGC 6544 globular cluster in the Sagittarius constellation. Previous infrared observations of this nebula revealed young stars and intricate structures.
6 comments
So many stars in that cluster, it must be a stunning sight. wish i could see it in person!
wow, just amazing how hubble keeps finding these cool things in space. space is just so fascinating!!!
Can’t wrap my head around the distance..8000 light-years away?? Thats just mindblowing…
So a pulsar is like a lighthouse in space? thats kinda neat.
who knew we could learn so much from dead stars, crazy to think about it.
I always forget how much cool stuff hubble has done. gotta look up more of these clusters.