An Original Global Cluster is Captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope
A magnificent cluster of stars named Palomar 2 was photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope last September 6, 2022. Palomar 2 is located in the constellation of Auriga and is one of the 15 globular known as the Palomar Globular Clusters. As their name suggests, these clusters were discovered and first seen in survey plates from the first Palomar Observatory Sky Survey by the National Geographic Society in the 1950s.
The incredible NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope illustration over captures the global cluster in a way that is not feasible with lesser or ground-based observatory telescopes. The said telescope is known for its ability to explore the universe with the help of ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. As the telescope floats above the Earth’s atmosphere, its mirror, which is much smaller than those found in observatories but is undeniably top-notch, is placed in such a way that it captures incredible images of heavenly bodies with such clarity.
On Hubble’s (@NASAHubble) official and verified Twitter account, the cluster was described as “an unusual globular cluster that shines.” Attached with the tweet was the unique globular clusters’ photograph. This cluster differs from others because it is located approximately five times farther from the Milky Way’s core than the majority of clusters do. Most clusters are known to orbit the center of galaxies.
There are several ways in which this particular cluster stands apart. One factor for this is that it is the lone globular cluster that can be seen in this part of the polar constellation Auriga or also known as The Charioteer. Globular clusters circle the colossal hub of a galaxy resembling the Milky Way in a manner similar to in what way satellites path the Earth.
Since Palomar 2 is five times farther from the Milky Way’s center than further clusters are, it is a concession to this norm. It is classified as an “outer halo” globular due to its greater distance and reversed direction from Earth.
The Hubble Space Telescope has seen and studied more than 40,000 cosmic objects. Aside from Palomar 2, some of its greatest revelations include the timeline and development of stars and the universe, supermassive black holes, it also mapped the presence of elusive dark matter, discovered two overlapping galaxies named SDSSJ 115331 and LEDA 2073461 just recently, and uncovered the truth that the expansion of the universe is speeding up that is caused by the presence of the yet to be identified “dark energy”.
With technologies like the Hubble Space Telescope, considering that we, humans, are still in the process of developing and further understanding these technologies it is undeniable that we still have a lot to figure out about the universe. These discoveries prove that there’s so much more for us to uncover about the things, living and non-living that could be inhabiting the cosmos. With the discovery of Palomar 2 and all the other discoveries of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, we could say that we are a step closer to revealing what really is there in the out and about.
SOURCES:
https://in.mashable.com/science/38157/nasas-hubble-space-telescope-captures-an-unique-global-cluster
OTHER URLs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palomar_2
https://www.nasa.gov/content/discoveries-why-a-space-telescope