                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 March 28

                     Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri
         Image Credit & Copyright: Massimo Di Fusco and Mirco Turra

   Explanation: Globular star cluster Omega Centauri, also known as NGC
   5139, is 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. It's 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. With a yellowish hue, Omega Centauri's red giant stars
   are easy to pick out in this sharp, color telescopic view.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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