Star Clusters Near the Center of the Galaxy
This 4-million-year-old cluster is more dispersed than the Arches cluster. It has stars on the verge of blowing up as supernovae. It is the home of the brightest star seen in the Galaxy, called the Pistol star.
Credit:
Don Figer ( Space Telescope Science Institute) and NASA/ESA
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo9930c |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 16 September 1999, 15:00 |
| Size: | 999 x 1009 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Arches Cluster, Pistol Star |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Blue Supergiant • Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster • Star Clusters Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 25000 light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Infrared J |
1.1 μm | Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS |
| Infrared H |
1.6 μm | Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS |
| Infrared Pa-alpha |
1.87 μm | Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS |
| Infrared Near-IR |
2.05 μm | Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS |
