Astronomy Picture of the Day 6-1-02

NASA ^ | 6-1-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

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.

2002 June 1

NGC 2266: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog
Credit: Till Credner & Sven Kohle, Bonn University

Explanation: The New General Catalog of star clusters and nebulae really isn't so new. In fact, it was published in 1888 - an attempt by J. L. E. Dreyer to consolidate the work of astronomers William, Caroline, and John Herschel along with others into a useful single, complete catalog of astronomical discoveries and measurements. Dreyer's work was successful and is still important today as this famous catalog continues to lend its "NGC" to bright clusters, galaxies, and nebulae. Take for example this star cluster known as NGC 2266 (item number 2,266 in the NGC compilation). It lies about 10,000 light-years distant in the constellation Gemini and represents an open or galactic cluster. With an age of about 1 billion years, NGC 2266 is old for a galactic cluster. Its evolved red giant stars are readily apparent in this gorgeous three-color image.

[petuniasevan]

This is a pretty cluster. It looks like a cosmic gold necklace with a diamond pendant.

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[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[sleavelessinseattle]

The Messier Catalogue fascinates me...the concept that we are facing infinity in any direction we look(more or less) and that the longer we look the more we see, but there are all these old classification systems that came about based on what was perceived at the time...I like to breath, but I'd really put up with quite a bit of discomfort to sit in space with a really clean helmet(do you ever think of the astronauts...what if they sneeze? They have maybe 100 hours in their life outside the atmosphere completely except for the moisture in their breath and whatever crud has been deposited in their helmet...I'd be bringing an industrial drum of Windex and some serious lens cleaning cloth if I were offered the chance to space walk...I want my Version one Mod 0 eyeball to take it all in...Love my APOD...Thanks Petunia for everything !:-) the board is green, over, go for burn...

[2Trievers]

Deep sky hugs 'tunia and happy asterisms! &;-)

[aomagrat]

10,000 light years

So far away and so long ago. The time and distance of space is hard for my simple mind to comprehend.