Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Centaurus (Cen)  ·  Contains:  NGC 5139  ·  omega Cen
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Omega Centauri Cluster, APshooter
Omega Centauri Cluster
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Omega Centauri Cluster

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Description

All globular clusters are impressive, but Omega Centauri is in a class by itself. Having a mass of 5 million suns, Omega Centauri is 10 times more massive than a typical globular cluster. Omega Centauri has a diameter of 230 light-years. It’s a stellar city sparkling with perhaps 10 million stars. Globular clusters generally have stars of similar age and composition. However, studies of Omega Centauri reveal that this cluster has different stellar populations that formed at varying periods of time. It may be that Omega Centauri is a remnant of a small galaxy that merged with the Milky Way.

Shot from Temecula, Ca at the Orange County Astronomers site. Shot when it appeared in a gap between two distant mountains.

Two 15 minute exposures Pro 400 film.

Processed by Tony and Daphne Hallas.

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Omega Centauri Cluster, APshooter

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