A breathtaking image captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope showcases the beauty and intrigue of the globular cluster NGC 2210, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. Situated approximately 157,000 light-years away from Earth, the LMC is gravitationally bound to our galaxy.
Globular clusters are clusters of tightly bound stars, consisting of thousands or even millions of stars. They are known for their stability, enabling them to last for billions of years. Due to their longevity, globular clusters provide valuable insights into ancient stellar populations.
Recent research conducted in 2017, using data that was also utilized to construct this image, discovered that some LMC globular clusters were remarkably similar in age to the oldest clusters found in the Milky Way’s halo. NGC 2210, in particular, is estimated to be approximately 11.6 billion years old, making it the youngest globular cluster in the sample. Other LMC globular clusters studied in the same research were found to be even older, with four of them surpassing 13 billion years.
This finding suggests that the oldest globular clusters in the LMC and the Milky Way formed concurrently, despite the galaxies evolving independently. These clusters offer valuable insights into the early stages of galaxy formation and the processes that led to their development.
Beyond its scientific significance, NGC 2210 is a visually striking cluster due to its densely populated core, containing a multitude of stars. If one were to observe the night sky from a planet orbiting a star in the center of a globular cluster, they would witness a celestial spectacle. The sky would appear to be teeming with stars, creating an environment thousands of times more crowded than our own.
The Hubble Space Telescope continues to astonish with its ability to capture stunning images that deepen our understanding of the universe. The image of NGC 2210 serves as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the cosmos, as well as the interconnectedness of celestial objects.
Read more in the Web Story: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Captures Stunning Image of a Densely Packed Star Cluster
Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
