The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures the globular cluster known as Terzan 2, also known as ESO 454-29 and Haute-Provence 3, which is located in the constellation of Scorpius.
Globular clusters are stable, densely packed collections of hundreds of thousands or even millions of stars, gravitationally bound together into a single structure about 100-200 light-years across.
They represent one of the oldest known objects in the universe and are relics of the earliest days of galaxy formation. Our galaxy has about 150 of these objects, and it is likely that there are a few more hidden behind the thick disk of the galaxy.
Globular clusters in galaxies
“The intense gravitational attraction between closely spaced stars gives globular clusters a regular spherical shape. As a result, images of the hearts of globular clusters, like this observation from Terzan 2, are teeming with a multitude of bright stars ”, explain the astronomers responsible for Hubble.
Terzan 2 is one of a dozen globular clusters discovered by the French astronomer Agop Terzan in the 1960s and 1970s.
The new Terzan 2 image is composed of observations from Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instruments in the infrared and optical parts of the spectrum.
“ Despite having only one primary mirror , Hubble’s design allows multiple instruments to be used to survey astronomical objects. Light from distant astronomical objects enters Hubble and is collected by the telescope’s 2.4m primary mirror. It is then reflected off the secondary mirror into the depths of the telescope, where smaller mirrors can direct the light onto individual instruments. Each of Hubble’s four operating instruments is a masterpiece of astronomical engineering in its own right and contains an intricate array of mirrors and other optical elements to remove any aberrations or optical imperfections from observations, as well as filters that allow astronomers look. specific wavelength ranges”, clarify the astronomers.
Reference: NASA / ESA / Hubble / R. Cohen
