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Hubble Views Striking Carbon Star in Colorful Cluster

A bright cluster of stars to the right, with bright red and blue standouts
ESA/Hubble & NASA

This Hubble Space Telescope image shows the colorful globular cluster NGC 2108. The cluster is nestled within the Large Magellanic Cloud, in the constellation of the Swordfish (Dorado). It was discovered in 1835 by the astronomer, mathematician, chemist and inventor John Herschel, son of the famous William Herschel.

The most striking feature of this globular cluster is the gleaming ruby-red spot to the lower left of the cluster’s center (on the right side of the image). What looks like the cluster’s watchful eye is actually a carbon star. Carbon stars are almost always cool red giants, with atmospheres containing more carbon than oxygen — the opposite of the Sun. Carbon monoxide forms in the outer layer of the star through a combination of these elements, until there is no more oxygen available. Carbon atoms are then free to form a variety of other carbon compounds, such as C2, CH, CN, C3 and SiC2, which scatter blue light within the star, allowing red light to pass through undisturbed.

This image was captured by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), using three different filters.

Text Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)

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Last Updated
Oct 04, 2023
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