All articles tagged with #globular cluster
Hubble's new image of Messier 3 shows more than 500,000 stars in a distant globular cluster, highlighting rare RR Lyrae variables and blue stragglers; these features help astronomers measure distances and probe the Milky Way's history, including ancient mergers, as part of a Treasury program surveying galactic clusters.
Gaia data and N-body simulations indicate Palomar 5 hosts a substantial population of stellar-mass black holes—over 20% of its mass—which drove stars into its broad tidal stream; the cluster is on track to dissolve in about a billion years, leaving a black-hole–dominated remnant, suggesting globular clusters commonly harbor black holes and are key sites for future black hole mergers, with Palomar 5 acting as a Rosetta Stone for stream formation.
Astronomers identified AT2022zod, an off-nuclear optical flare consistent with a tidal disruption event caused by an intermediate-mass black hole. Spotted in a distant galaxy about 1.5 billion light-years away and lasting roughly a month, its off-center location and short duration suggest the presence of an IMBH outside galactic centers, possibly in a globular cluster or ultracompact dwarf galaxy. This finding adds to evidence for elusive middleweight black holes and points to Rubin Observatory’s LSST as a key tool for discovering more cases.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured an image of the globular cluster NGC 1651 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, showcasing a cluster of stars about 2 billion years old and approximately 120 light-years across. The cluster is generally spherical, with a higher concentration of stars near its center, and the image also features a spiral galaxy amidst the bright stars.
Astronomers have detected a faint radio signal at the center of an ancient globular cluster, possibly originating from a long-hidden black hole or a pulsar. The discovery, made using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, provides a highly sensitive image of the cluster 47 Tucanae, offering potential insights into the existence of intermediate-mass black holes and pulsars. This finding could pave the way for future discoveries using next-generation radio telescopes.
Astronomers have discovered a dense object orbiting a pulsar in a globular cluster 40,000 light-years away, which could be either the heaviest neutron star or the lightest black hole ever observed, challenging the known mass gap. The object's mass falls between the expected ranges for neutron stars and black holes, leading to two extreme possibilities. The researchers believe it may have formed from the merger of two neutron stars and are eager to uncover its true nature, as it could provide valuable insights into neutron stars, black holes, and the physics of extreme densities.
Scientists have detected mysterious radio waves emanating from the heart of the 47 Tucanae globular cluster in the Milky Way, possibly originating from a medium-sized black hole, marking a potential breakthrough discovery. The signal was discovered through 450 hours of observations by the Australia Telescope Compact Array, revealing the most detailed radio image of the cluster to date. If confirmed, this would be the first-ever radio detection of a black hole within a cluster, shedding light on the existence of intermediate-mass black holes and the process of black hole growth.
Astronomers have produced the most sensitive radio image ever of the ancient star cluster 47 Tucanae, revealing a previously undiscovered radio signal at its center. The image, created by a global team led by the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, was compiled from over 450 hours of observations using CSIRO's Australia Telescope Compact Array. The signal could potentially indicate the presence of an intermediate-mass black hole or a pulsar, and the research demonstrates the capabilities of current radio telescopes while hinting at the potential of future telescopes like the SKA.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of an ancient globular cluster located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 157,000 light-years from Earth. These clusters, packed with thousands or even millions of stars, provide clues about the early universe. The cluster, called NGC 2210, is estimated to be around 11.6 billion years old, making it just a few billion years younger than the universe itself. Other clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud may be even older, with some exceeding 13 billion years in age.
The Euclid telescope has captured a detailed image of the NGC 6397 globular cluster, located in the Milky Way's disc, revealing insights into the galaxy's history. By distinguishing faint stars in the cluster's outer regions, Euclid's capabilities enable the search for tidal tails, which can indicate past interactions and help map dark matter within the Milky Way. This comprehensive imaging may provide new insights into the role of dark matter in the galaxy and the evolution of one of its oldest stellar structures.
Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope have discovered two new isolated pulsars in the globular cluster NGC 6522. The pulsars, designated as PSR J1803−3002E and PSR J1803−3002F, bring the total number of known pulsars in NGC 6522 to six. PSR J1803−3002E is a mildly recycled millisecond pulsar found near the center of the cluster, while PSR J1803−3002F is a slow pulsar located at a distance from the cluster's center. The discovery suggests a possible link between the formation of these pulsars and the evolutionary stage of the cluster.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new photo of the globular cluster Terzan 12, located 15,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Sagittarius. The cluster appears bright red due to interstellar dust and gas that obscure our view. The photo reveals a higher concentration of stars near the center of Terzan 12, shining extra bright. The image was taken as part of an initiative to study the relationship between age and composition of globular clusters in the innermost region of the Milky Way.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning new photo of Terzan 12, a globular cluster located 15,000 light-years away in the constellation of Sagittarius. Globular clusters are densely packed groups of hundreds of thousands to millions of stars bound together by gravity. The photo reveals the cluster shrouded in gas and dust, with a higher concentration of stars near its center. The interstellar dust particles scatter blue light, allowing only the redder wavelengths from the cluster to be seen. This image is part of an initiative to study the relationship between age and composition of globular clusters in the innermost region of the Milky Way galaxy.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the globular cluster Terzan 12, located 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. The image showcases a multitude of stars shining through interstellar gas and dust, providing insights into the structure and ages of globular clusters. These ancient clusters help astronomers understand the life cycles of stars and the presence of stellar-mass black holes. Terzan 12, the 11th globular cluster discovered by Agop Terzan, offers a breathtaking view of celestial bodies in space.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of NGC 6652, a globular cluster located 30,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. This cluster contains some of the oldest stars in our galaxy, estimated to be 13.6 billion years old. Globular clusters like NGC 6652 provide valuable insights into the early stages of the Milky Way and the universe. The image showcases countless pale blue stars tightly packed in a spherical core due to intense gravitational attraction. The data from this image will contribute to research on the age and composition of globular clusters.