| Globular star cluster Omega Centauri, also known as NGC 5139, is some 15,000 light-years away. The cluster is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun within a volume about 150 light-years in diameter, the largest and brightest of 200 or so known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way. This astronomically sharp color image of the classic globular cluster was recorded in March under Chilean skies from Hacienda Los Andes. (Text APOD) | |||
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| Mount | Astro-Physics AP1200GTO |
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| Telescope | Astro-Physics 175mm f/8 Starfire EDF with f/8.3 CCD field flattener |
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| Camera |
FLI PL29050 with Astrodon filters |
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| Exposure |
L 27x2m / R 8x2m / G 8x2m / B 8x2m |
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| Total |
1h 42min | |
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| Date |
März 2014 |
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| Location |
Hacienda los Andes / Chile |
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Image acquisition by CEDIC team (Christoph Kaltseis, Bernhard Hubl, Wolfgang Leitner, Herbert Walter) Image processing by Christoph Kaltseis