 |
Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня M7: рассеянное звездное скопление в Скорпионе http://www.variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1298259/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Lorand Fenyes
Explanation:
M7 is one of the most prominent
open clusters
of stars on the sky.
The cluster, dominated by bright blue
stars,
can be seen with the naked eye in a dark
sky
in the tail of the constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius).
M7 contains about 100 stars in total, is about
200 million years old,
spans 25
light-years across, and lies about 1000 light-years away.
The above deep image, taken last June from
Hungary
through a small telescope, combines over 60 two-minute exposures.
The M7 star cluster
has been known since ancient times, being noted by
Ptolemy in the year
130 AD.
Also visible are a
dark dust cloud
and literally millions of unrelated stars
towards the Galactic center.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.