1 min read

A Hubble Sky Full of Stars

A field of stars called a globular cluster
NGC 4833 is one of the over 150 globular clusters known to reside within the Milky Way. These objects are thought to contain some of the oldest stars in our galaxy. Studying these ancient cosmic clusters can help astronomers to unravel how a galaxy formed and evolved, and give an idea of the galaxy’s age. Globular clusters are responsible for some of the most striking sights in the cosmos, with hundreds of thousands of stars congregating in the same region of space.
ESA/Hubble and NASA

Located approximately 22,000 light-years away in the constellation of Musca (The Fly), this tightly packed collection of stars — known as a globular cluster — goes by the name of NGC 4833. This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the dazzling stellar group in all its glory.

NGC 4833 is one of the over 150 globular clusters known to reside within the Milky Way. These objects are thought to contain some of the oldest stars in our galaxy. Studying these ancient cosmic clusters can help astronomers to unravel how a galaxy formed and evolved, and give an idea of the galaxy’s age.

Globular clusters are responsible for some of the most striking sights in the cosmos, with hundreds of thousands of stars congregating in the same region of space. Hubble has observed many of these clusters during its time in orbit around our planet, each as breathtaking as the last.

Text credit: European Space Agency

Share

Details

Last Updated
Oct 04, 2023
Editor
NASA Hubble Mission Team
Contact
NASA Hubble Mission Team

Related Terms

Explore More

An object in the image has two lobes connected by a narrow, curved "neck," giving it a duck-like appearance. The object’s surface is rough and textured, with a mix of craters, rocky protrusions, and uneven, rugged terrain. Bright streams of material radiate outward from the surface, creating a soft, fan-like glow around the object. In contrast to the bright object, the image background is black.
6 min read

NASA-Led Team Links Comet Water to Earth’s Oceans

Scientists find that cometary dust affects interpretation of spacecraft measurements, reopening the case for comets as potential sources of water for early Earth. 

Article22 seconds ago
7 min read

Edward Gonzales Fosters a Culturally Safe Workplace for Current, Future Employees

As the program manager for people, culture and equity, “people whisperer” Edward Victor Gonzales helps ensure people’s wellbeing, comfort, and safety. Name: Edward Victor Gonzales Title: Program Manager for People, Culture, and Equity Organization: Heliophysics Division, Science and Exploration Directorate (Code 670) What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here […]

Article36 mins ago
6 min read

Alfonso Delgado Bonal Has His Head in the Clouds — for Research

Research scientist Alfonso Delgado Bonal makes important discoveries about patterns in cloud movements while thriving within the NASA Goddard family. Name: Alfonso Delgado BonalFormal Job Classification: Research scientistOrganization: Climate and Radiation Laboratory, Science Directorate (Code 613) What do you do and what is most interesting about your role here at Goddard? As a theoretical physicist, […]

Article7 days ago
Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

James Webb Space Telescope

The image is divided horizontally by an undulating line between a cloudscape forming a nebula along the bottom portion and a comparatively clear upper portion. Speckled across both portions is a starfield, showing innumerable stars of many sizes. The smallest of these are small, distant, and faint points of light. The largest of these appear larger, closer, brighter, and more fully resolved with 8-point diffraction spikes. The upper portion of the image is blueish, and has wispy translucent cloud-like streaks rising from the nebula below. The orangish cloudy formation in the bottom half varies in density and ranges from translucent to opaque. The stars vary in color, the majority of which have a blue or orange hue. The cloud-like structure of the nebula contains ridges, peaks, and valleys – an appearance very similar to a mountain range. Three long diffraction spikes from the top right edge of the image suggest the presence of a large star just out of view.

Perseverance Rover

Parker Solar Probe

Juno