Star clusters near the center of the galaxy
This 4-million-year-old cluster, The Quintuplet Cluster, is more dispersed than the Arches Cluster. It has stars on the verge of blowing up as supernovae. It is the home of the brightest star seen in the Milky Way, called the Pistol star.
Credit:Don Figer ( Space Telescope Science Institute) and NASA/ESA
About the Image
NASA press release
| Id: | opo9930c |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 16 September 1999, 15:00 |
| Size: | 999 x 1009 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Pistol Star, Quintuplet Cluster |
| Type: | Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Blue Supergiant Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster |
| Distance: | 25000 light years |
| Constellation: | Sagittarius |
| Category: | Star Clusters |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 46 15.25 |
| Position (Dec): | -28° 49' 32.25" |
| Field of view: | 1.26 x 1.27 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 45.5° right of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared J | 1.1 μm |
Hubble Space Telescope
NICMOS |
| Infrared H | 1.6 μm |
Hubble Space Telescope
NICMOS |
| Infrared Pa-alpha | 1.87 μm |
Hubble Space Telescope
NICMOS |
| Infrared Near-IR | 2.05 μm |
Hubble Space Telescope
NICMOS |