Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2021 June 3
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                     Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri
            Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Ignacio Diaz Bobillo

   Explanation: Globular star cluster [5]Omega Centauri, also known as NGC
   5139, is some 15,000 light-years away. The cluster is [6]packed with
   about 10 million stars much older than the Sun within a volume about
   150 light-years in diameter. It's the largest and brightest of 200 or
   so known [7]globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way
   galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age
   and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of
   [8]different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical
   abundances. In fact, [9]Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small
   galaxy merging with the Milky Way. Omega Centauri's red giant stars
   (with a [10]yellowish hue) are easy to pick out in this [11]sharp,
   color telescopic view.

                      Tomorrow's picture: moon monsters
     __________________________________________________________________

      [12]< | [13]Archive | [14]Submissions | [15]Index | [16]Search |
   [17]Calendar | [18]RSS | [19]Education | [20]About APOD | [21]Discuss |
                                    [22]>
     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [23]Robert Nemiroff ([24]MTU) & [25]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([26]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [27]Specific rights apply.
              [28]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [29]ASD at [30]NASA / [31]GSFC
                           & [32]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2106/OmegaCent_LRGB_final1_small.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. http://www.pampaskies.com/gallery3/index.php
   5. http://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/omega-centauri-milky-ways-prize-star-cluster
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080906.html
   7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globular_clusters
   8. http://arxiv.org/abs/0912.4176
   9. http://www.spacetelescope.org/news/html/heic0809.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap151224.html
  11. http://www.pampaskies.com/gallery3/Deep-Space-Objects/OmegaCent_LRGB_final1_small
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210602.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  16. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  21. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=210603
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210604.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  26. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  29. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  32. http://www.mtu.edu/