Globular cluster M2, optical image. This is a ball of over 150,000 stars that orbits the nucleus of our Milky Way galaxy. Currently it lies some 37,50

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Globular cluster M2, optical image. This is a ball of over 150,000 stars that orbits the nucleus of our Milky Way galaxy. Currently it lies some 37,500 light years from Earth. As well as the Milky Way, many other galaxies have numerous globular clusters in orbit around them. The Milky Way is thought to have around 180 orbiting globular clusters. Globular clusters are extremely old, some almost as old as the universe itself, and it is thought that they are amongst the first stars to form in a galaxy. M2 lies in the constellation Aquarius.

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Size: 3626px × 2426px
Photo credit: © RUSSELL CROMAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2003, 7089, aquarius, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, circle, circular, cluster, globular, m2, ngc, single, space, star, stars, stellar, telescope