Ancient Stellar Globe NGC 6535

This image captures the stunning NGC 6535, a globular cluster in the constellation Serpens. Globular clusters are gravitationally bound groups of stars that orbit galaxies. The large mass in the rich stellar center of the globular cluster pulls the stars inward to form a dynamic stellar globe. Globular clusters are generally very ancient objects, believed to have been formed around the same time as their host galaxy, The abundance of aging yellow stars in this image, most of them containing very few heavy elements, points to an old age for this cluster.