The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of the globular cluster NGC 6652, nestled within our home galaxy, the Milky Way. This image is a result of collaborative work by two separate teams of astronomers, merging data from two Hubble instruments to investigate globular clusters and their chemical composition. Photo Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Sarajedini, G. Piotto
The globular cluster NGC 6652 illuminates brightly in a remarkable image from the Hubble Space Telescope, awash with the light of innumerable stars.
This enchanting image from the Hubble Space Telescope displays the shining contents of the globular cluster NGC 6652, resembling a celestial disco ball. The cluster’s heart glows with the faint blue radiance of an array of stars, with several notably bright foreground stars decorated with intersecting diffraction spikes. NGC 6652 is found in the Milky Way galaxy, in the constellation Sagittarius, about 30,000 light-years away from Earth and merely 6,500 light-years from the Galactic center.
Understanding Globular Clusters
Globular clusters are robust, dense clusters bound by gravity, comprising tens of thousands to millions of stars. These celestial objects acquire their regular spherical shape from the immense gravitational pull exerted by the stars tightly clustered within.
Data Accumulation and Observation Programs
The image integrates data from two of Hubble’s third-generation instruments; the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). The image’s value is derived not only from two instruments but also from two distinct observation programs led by different teams of astronomers. The initial team undertook a project to study globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy, aspiring to shed light on various aspects, from the clusters’ ages to the galaxy’s overall gravitational potential.
Chemical Composition Analysis
The second team of astronomers employed three highly sensitive filters in Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 to ascertain the amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in globular clusters such as NGC 6652.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hubble Space Telescope
What is the globular cluster that the Hubble Space Telescope captured?
The Hubble Space Telescope captured a striking image of the globular cluster NGC 6652, located within our Milky Way galaxy.
What teams of astronomers worked on this image?
The image was a product of the work of two distinct teams of astronomers who combined data from two Hubble instruments to survey globular clusters and to analyze their chemical makeup.
Where is globular cluster NGC 6652 located?
Globular cluster NGC 6652 lies in our own Milky Way galaxy in the constellation Sagittarius. It is just under 30,000 light-years from Earth and a mere 6,500 light-years from the Galactic center.
What are globular clusters?
Globular clusters are stable, tightly gravitationally bound clusters containing anywhere between tens of thousands and millions of stars. Their regular, spherical shape is due to the intense gravitational attraction between the closely packed stars.
What data was used to create this image?
This image combines data from two of Hubble’s third-generation instruments; the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). It not only benefits from two instruments but also relies on two separate observing programs from two distinct teams of astronomers.
What was the purpose of the study by the two teams of astronomers?
The first team embarked on a mission to survey globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy in the hope of shedding light on topics ranging from the ages of these objects to the gravitational potential of the galaxy as a whole. The second team used sensitive filters in Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 to disentangle the proportions of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in globular clusters such as NGC 6652.
More about Hubble Space Telescope
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Globular Clusters
- The Constellation Sagittarius
- Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3)
- Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS)
5 comments
Truly remarkable work by both teams. Kudos to the astronomers for analyzing the chemical composition. keep up the good work, guys!
im in awe. Its astonishing that we can look at these things from so far away. just puts into perspective how tiny we are…
Hubble telescope never fails to amaze us. The magic of these celestial bodies always gets me. Stunning pic of NGC 6652!
Woah! what an incredible image of NGC 6652. Can’t believe we got such detailed views of globular clusters from our own milky way!
i mean, 30,000 light years away!! And we’re here analyzing it’s chemical makeup… science is beyond amazing. Props to the teams involved!