A Stellar Celebration: Hubble's 35th Anniversary

In a breathtaking tribute to its 35th anniversary, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled a stunning image of Messier 72, a captivating globular cluster teeming with ancient stars.

What Are Globular Clusters?

Globular clusters are fascinating cosmic formations, cradling hundreds of thousands, sometimes even a million stars, all held together by gravity in a space spanning 100-200 light-years. These clusters represent some of the oldest relics from the nascent stages of galaxy formation.

Messier 72: A Glimpse into the Past

Located around 50,000 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius, Messier 72 (or M72) is a stellar time capsule that dates back nearly 9.5 billion years. With an apparent magnitude of 9.4, it appears as a faint glow through smaller telescopes, best observed in the month of September.

A Historical Discovery

Messier 72 was first identified in 1780 by French astronomer Pierre Méchain, who was collaborating with Charles Messier. This globular cluster stands out as one of the most distant objects cataloged by Messier, being the first of five clusters discovered by Méchain.

Reviving a Classic Image

Remarkably, Messier 72 holds a special place in Hubble's history. It was the very first image featured in the 'Hubble Picture of the Week' series on April 22, 2010. For 15 years, Hubble scientists have shared a new image each Monday, contributing nearly 800 stunning visuals to the telescope's expansive archive.

A Colorful New Perspective

The latest image of Messier 72 showcases vibrant color contrasts, thanks to the integration of ultraviolet data with previous visible-light observations. These differing hues reveal various types of stars within the cluster; the bright blue stars once had more mass and are now hotter as they exhaust their hydrogen fuel, while bright red stars have evolved into red giants.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe

By studying these distinct stellar groups, astronomers hope to glean vital insights into the formation processes of globular clusters and the galaxies from which they originated. Messier 72 not only enriches our understanding of the cosmos but also continues to inspire curiosity about our universe.