Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 6366 vs 47 Ophiuchi

NASA ^ | 23 May, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Massimo Di Fusco

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: Most globular star clusters roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy, but globular cluster NGC 6366 lies close to the galactic plane. About 12,000 light-years away toward the constellation Ophiuchus, the cluster's starlight is dimmed and reddened by the Milky Way's interstellar dust when viewed from planet Earth. As a result, the stars of NGC 6366 look almost golden in this telescopic scene, especially when seen next to relatively bright, bluish, and nearby star 47 Ophiuchi. Compared to the hundred thousand stars or so gravitationally bound in distant NGC 6366, 47 Oph itself is a binary star system a mere 100 light-years away. Still, the co-orbiting stars of 47 Oph are too close together to be individually distinguished in the image.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

[MtnClimber]

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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.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

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[FroggyTheGremlim]

Shadings of interstellar material (gas?, dust?) are dimly visible thruout the image.

[telescope115]

Beautiful contrast on a starry background.

[F450-V10]

Scanning dark skies with binoculars gives me almost as much enjoyment as a telescope.

[doorgunner69]

Have to admit I do not have a clue how a globular cluster does not just collapse over time.

A spiral galaxy has that orbital dynamic going it seems.

[No name given]

Wow.