Faint White Dwarf Star in Globular Cluster NGC 6397
The image pinpoints one of the dim white dwarfs seen by Hubble (in the centre of the image, between the two brighter stars). The white dwarf has been cooling for billions of years. It is so cool that instead of looking red, it has undergone a chemical change in its atmosphere that makes it appear blue.
Credit:About the Image
NASA press release
| Id: | heic0608c |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 17 August 2006, 20:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0608 |
| Size: | 404 x 404 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 6397 |
| Type: | Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular |
| Distance: | 9000 light years |
| Constellation: | Ara |
| Category: | Star Clusters |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 41 1.46 | |
| Position (Dec): | -53° 43' 28.54" |
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical V | 606 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
| Optical I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |