Posted on 01/03/2013 6:15:25 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Open clusters of stars can be near or far, young or old, and diffuse or compact. Found near the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, they contain from 100 to 10,000 stars, all of which formed at nearly the same time. Bright blue stars frequently distinguish younger open clusters. M35, on the upper left, is relatively nearby at 2800 light years distant, relatively young at 150 million years old, and relatively diffuse, with about 2500 stars spread out over a volume 30 light years across. An older and more compact open cluster, NGC 2158, is at the lower right. NGC 2158 is four times more distant than M35, over 10 times older, and much more compact with many more stars in roughly the same volume of space. NGC 2158's bright blue stars have self-destructed, leaving cluster light to be dominated by older and yellower stars. Both clusters are seen toward the constellation of Gemini.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Dieter Willasch (Astro-Cabinet)]
|
APOD Editors to Speak:
I thought I saw OH-BOW-MA, but it was just a BLACK ***HOLE!!!
So fascinating and beautiful!!
Thank you
BoL
I love these “Deep Space” pics!
Thanks, all!
Oddly enough, I got that movie on BluRay last night — I don’t like it, I’ve never liked it, probably never will like it, but parts of it look really great on screen, aannnnnddd, it was a three-movie pack for one price, and it was just under $13. The neighboring three-movie pack that had “2010” (a movie I’ve always liked pretty well) was a buck more.
I like it but I’m not really sure why. Its a quiet movie.
I wish they had made 3001 into a movie. Kind of an interesting take on 1000 years into the future.
M13 is a Globular star cluster in the Constellation Hercules. It contains several hundred thousand stars, and is approximately 25,000 light years from earth.
I think this was shot at ISO 1250, w/lp filters and included a series of 30 images at about 60 second exposure each, calibrated, stacked and combined into what ya see.
Agreed! Seeing its larger version is well worth the click through to the APOD site.
Hot, young stars are blue. Sigh... Some people are never satisfied.
Very nicely presented.
Actually, I regret putting the blue frame around the image...I can remove it, but have just lost interest for now...I’m sure at some point the spark will return....
BTW, thanks for the nice comment...
Yes....it is.
Beautiful picture.
You’re welcome. [smiles]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.