Star clusters. Optical image of the open (galactic) star clusters M35 (NGC 2168, lower left) and NGC 2158 (upper right). North is at left. An open clu

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Star clusters. Optical image of the open (galactic) star clusters M35 (NGC 2168, lower left) and NGC 2158 (upper right). North is at left. An open cluster is an aggregation of stars that are thought to have formed at the same time from a coalescing cloud of gas. M35 contains over 200 stars, which are thought to be around 110 million years old. It lies around 2800 light years from Earth. NGC 2158 is an unrelated open cluster that lies around 17,000 light years from Earth. It is thought to be older than M35. Both of these clusters lie in the constellation Gemini.

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Size: 4050px × 5150px
Photo credit: © J-C CUILLANDRE/CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2158, 2168, astronomical, astronomy, canada-france-hawaii, cluster, clusters, cosmology, galactic, gemini, m35, ngc, night, open, optical, science, sky, star, starfield, stars, stellar, telescope