Suggested Searches

 

1 min read

Arches Cluster: Keck I 10m (1996)

Arches Cluster: Keck I 10m (1996)

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    17h 45m 50.5s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -28° 49' 27.99"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Sagittarius
  • Distance
    DistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.
    25,000 light-years away (8,000 parsecs)

About the Data

  • Instrument
    InstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.
    Keck I>10m
  • Exposure Dates
    Exposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.
    1996
  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    Arches Cluster
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Star Cluster
  • Release Date
    March 9, 2005
  • Science Release
    Hubble Weighs in on the Heaviest Stars in the Galaxy
    Read the release
  • Credits
    G. Serabyn (JPL), D. Shupe (Caltech) and D. Figer (STScI)

Downloads

  • 618 × 618
    jpg (82.72 KB)
  • 618 × 618
    tif (271.88 KB)
  • 200 × 200
    jpg (7.08 KB)
  • 399 × 399
    jpg (15.98 KB)

Related Images & Videos

Artist's Concept of the Arches Cluster

Artist's Concept of the Arches Cluster

This artist's impression shows how the Arches star cluster appears from deep inside the hub of our Milky Way Galaxy. Although hidden from our direct view, the massive cluster lies 25,000 light-years away and is the densest known gathering of young stars in our galaxy. The...

A Comparison of Star Sizes

A Comparison of Star Sizes

This illustration compares the different masses of stars. The lightest-weight stars are red dwarfs. They can be as small as one-twelfth the mass of our Sun. The heaviest-weight stars are blue-white super giants. They may get as large as 150 solar masses. Our Sun is between the...

How Big Can a Star Be?

How Big Can a Star Be?

Trio of Images of the Arches Cluster

Trio of Images of the Arches Cluster

These images of the Arches cluster, taken by three different telescopes, reveal progressively more detail in the tightly packed collection of about 2,000 stars. The Arches is the densest star cluster in our Milky Way Galaxy and resides in our galaxy's crowded core. Astronomers...

Arches Cluster: Lick 3m (1994)

Arches Cluster: Lick 3m (1994)

The Milky Way's Densest Star Cluster: The Arches Cluster

The Milky Way's Densest Star Cluster: The Arches Cluster

Share

Details

Last Updated
Feb 17, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

Related Terms

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

Hubble Space Telescope

Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Hubble Science Highlights

Hubble Images

Hubble News