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Omega Centauri

Omega Centauri, also known as NGC 5139, is the largest and brightest globular cluster in the Milky Way, containing about 10 million stars. It is located approximately 15,800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.

Source: noirlab.edu

APODs including "Omega Centauri"

From Alpha to Omega in Crete

29/06/2016

From Alpha to Omega in Crete
Image Credit: Panther Observatory / NASA APOD

This beautiful telephoto composition spans light-years in a natural night skyscape from the island of Crete. Looking south, exposures both track the stars and record a fixed foreground in three merged panels that cover a 10x12 degree wide field of view. The May 15 waxing gibbous moonlight illuminates the church and mountainous terrain. A mere 18 thousand light-years away, huge globular star cluster Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) shining above gives a good visual impression of its appearance in binoculars on that starry night. Active galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is near the top of the frame, some 11 million light-years distant. Also found toward the expansive southern constellation Centaurus and about the size of our own Milky Way is edge on spiral galaxy NGC 4945. About 13 million light-years distant it's only a little farther along, and just above the horizon at the right.