The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of globular cluster NGC 6652, one of the oldest objects in our galaxy. The image, which was released on August 14, 2023, shows a dense cluster of stars about 30,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius.
Globular clusters are thought to be some of the oldest objects in the universe, and NGC 6652 is no exception. Astronomers estimate that the cluster is about 13.6 billion years old, making it older than the Milky Way galaxy itself. The stars in NGC 6652 are also some of the oldest stars in our galaxy, with some of them being over 10 billion years old.
The image of NGC 6652 is a treasure trove of information for astronomers. The dense concentration of stars allows astronomers to study the evolution of stars over time. The image also reveals the presence of a large number of white dwarf stars, which are the remnants of dead stars.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a powerful tool for studying the universe, and its images continue to amaze and inspire us. The image of NGC 6652 is a reminder of the vastness of the universe and the incredible diversity of objects that it contains.
Globular cluster NGC 6652Opens in a new window
Here are some additional details about NGC 6652:
The cluster contains over 100,000 stars.
The stars in the cluster are very tightly packed together, with an average distance of just a few light-years between stars.
The cluster is about 6,500 light-years from the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
NGC 6652 is classified as a “core-collapsed” globular cluster, which means that the core of the cluster is very dense and compact.
The cluster is thought to be about 13.6 billion years old, making it one of the oldest objects in our galaxy.