Star clusters near the center of the galaxy
The Arches cluster is so dense that over 100,000 of its stars would fill a spherical region in space whose radius is the distance between the Sun and its nearest neighbor, the star Alpha Centauri, 4.3 light-years away. At least 150 of its stars are among the brightest ever seen in the Galaxy.
Credit:Don Figer ( Space Telescope Science Institute) and NASA/ESA
About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Arches Cluster |
| Type: | Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster |
| Distance: | 25000 light years |
| Constellation: | Sagittarius |
| Category: | Star Clusters |
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 45 50.29 |
| Position (Dec): | -28° 49' 21.11" |
| Field of view: | 0.64 x 0.64 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 |