Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri

NASA ^ | June 15, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Featured in this sharp telescopic image, globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is some 15,000 light-years away. Some 150 light-years in diameter, the cluster is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun. Omega Cen is the largest of 200 or so known 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 different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way.

[SunkenCiv]

Before my time. ;’)

[fieldmarshaldj]

1979 ?

[from occupied ga]

I wonder at the configuration of this GC and whether it has a strong x-ray source/black hole at its core as the larger actual galaxies do

At first astronomers thought it did and now they think it doesn't. In short your guess and mine is as good as theirs :-)