Situated a staggering 15,000 light-years away in the Sagittarius constellation within our Milky Way galaxy, Terzan 12 is a tightly-knit congregation of hundreds of thousands to millions of stars, bound together by the unyielding force of gravity.
A new Hubble image unveils the splendor of the globular cluster Terzan 12
This arrangement gives rise to its spherical appearance when viewed from Earth. This recent new Hubble image, a result of the collaborative efforts of NASA and the European Space Agency, showcases Terzan 12 veiled in a gauzy cloak of gas and dust. These elements not only absorb but also modify the starlight emanating from this celestial cluster.
Notably, a heightened concentration of stars is discernible near its core, radiating with exceptional brilliance in this fresh new Hubble image perspective. According to NASA, the Milky Way boasts approximately 150 of these ancient globular clusters scattered along its periphery, encircling the galactic center in a manner akin to bees encircling a hive.
Within this latest new Hubble image, interstellar dust particles scatter the blue light, allowing only the redder wavelengths from the cluster to grace our vision
The most luminous red stars captured in the new Hubble image are colossal, elderly giants, several times larger than our own sun. Meanwhile, the bright blue stars seen in the foreground of the new Hubble image do not belong to the cluster, as they remain unobscured by interstellar matter. This new Hubble image of Terzan 12 is part of a broader initiative to probe the globular clusters nestled towards the heart of our galaxy, where, in contrast to the outer reaches of the Milky Way, such clusters are comparatively scarce.
Employing Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys and Wide-Field Camera 3, astronomers delved into the correlation between age and composition of the galaxy’s innermost globular clusters when juxtaposed with their counterparts scattered throughout the Milky Way. NASA unveiled this resplendent image of Terzan 12 on September 7, offering a glimpse into the marvels concealed within our cosmic neighborhood.
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