The Great Cluster in the constellation Hercules is one of the sights those with telescopes search for at this time of year. The eye has difficulty picking it out, but – as shown in this telescopic image from Ido at Bareket Observatory – the cluster is actually a vast symmetrical star city. It contains some 300,000 stars.
This object is a globular star cluster, one of our galaxy’s oldest inhabitants. In other words, as our Milky Way galaxy was forming, globular star clusters are thought to have been among the first things to form.
Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
More from
Deborah Byrd
View All
Happy May Day! Today is an astronomy holiday
May 1, 2024
Why do we celebrate Earth Day on April 22?
April 21, 2024
Why does the moon seem to follow me when I’m in a car?
April 19, 2024
Kochab and Pherkad: Outer bowl stars of the Little Dipper
April 18, 2024