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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod ^ | 16 Mar, 2023 | Image Credit & Copyright: Neil Corke, Heaven's Mirror Observatory

Posted on 03/16/2023 3:20:02 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Globular star cluster Omega Centauri, also known as NGC 5139, is 15,000 light-years away. The cluster is 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 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. Omega Centauri's red giant stars (with a yellowish hue) are easy to pick out in this sharp, color telescopic view.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 03/16/2023 3:20:02 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/16/2023 3:20:22 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

šŸŖ šŸŒŸ šŸŒŒ šŸ”


3 posted on 03/16/2023 3:21:01 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber
The cluster is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun within a volume about 150 light-years in diameter.

And that's with a camera pointed in one direction only.

A number that man can not truly comprehend.

And we naively believe that we are the sole residents of the universe?

4 posted on 03/16/2023 3:31:34 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Well Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah)
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To: Hot Tabasco
And we naively believe that we are the sole residents of the universe?

Define "residents" - many stars reside in the Universe, it's plain to see.

5 posted on 03/16/2023 3:37:31 PM PDT by Ahithophel (Communication is an art form susceptible to sudden technical failure)
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To: Ahithophel
Define "residents" -

Not necessary since you know exactly what I mean.

Not playing your silly game.......Sheesh!

6 posted on 03/16/2023 3:41:19 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Well Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah)
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To: MtnClimber

Iā€™d say thereā€™s a pretty good chance somethingā€™s going on over there.


7 posted on 03/16/2023 4:19:10 PM PDT by Track9 (You are far too inquisitive not to be seducedā€¦)
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To: MtnClimber

That picture is out of date


8 posted on 03/16/2023 4:23:49 PM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it šŸ¤Ŗ)
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To: Hot Tabasco

ā€œWeā€ donā€™t actually believe that. There are those that do believe that and then there are the smarter ones.


9 posted on 03/16/2023 4:59:17 PM PDT by webheart
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To: NWFree

Yes it is about 15000 years out of date.


10 posted on 03/16/2023 5:01:23 PM PDT by webheart
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To: MtnClimber

ā€œMy God, itā€™s full of starsā€ā€¦


11 posted on 03/16/2023 5:20:05 PM PDT by telescope115 (My feet are on the ground, and my head is in the stars. A Man, and proud of it!)
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To: MtnClimber

Two things:

One, Omega Centauri is a Galactic Core that has had its interstellar gas stripped off by interaction with the Milky Way. It is NOT a Globular Cluster.

Two, from Savannah, Ga we could just see it naked eye from a dark sky (it looked red due to the atmosphere), and, even if it wasn’t that dark, we could get a pretty good view of it for about 2 hours in the Spring.


12 posted on 03/16/2023 5:43:43 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (Conan the Sailing Librarian)
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To: MtnClimber

Just a TINY fraction of what is out there..

mind blowing...


13 posted on 03/16/2023 5:55:00 PM PDT by mowowie
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To: MtnClimber

It’s the same constellation as the closest star (excepting the sun).


14 posted on 03/16/2023 8:34:43 PM PDT by scrabblehack
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