Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  M 3  ·  NGC 5272
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Messier Object 3 - 5/3/2010, AstroPoverty
Messier Object 3 - 5/3/2010
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Messier Object 3 - 5/3/2010

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Description

Messier Object 3, located in Canes Venatici, is one of about 150 globular clusters that orbit our galactic core. Globular clusters are some of the most ancient objects in our galaxy. Nobody is quite sure how they form or what role they are intended to play. This particular cluster is comprised of over 500,000 stars all clumped together in a spherical formation. Some of these clusters have a collective density to rival smaller dwarf galaxies. Astronomers have even suggested that the density in some globular clusters may be sufficient enough to warrant the existence of a black hole.

This cluster is some 34 thousand light years distant and is approximately 8 billion years old.

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Messier Object 3 - 5/3/2010, AstroPoverty