Quintuplet cluster

Quintuplet Cluster

Quintuplet Cluster (HST/NICMOS image)[1]
Observation data (J2000. epoch)
Constellation Sagittarius
Right ascension 17h 46m 13.9s
Declination −28° 49′ 48″
Distance 25 kly (8.5 kpc)
Physical characteristics
Notable features Dense cluster of massive young stars near the Galactic center. Optically obscured.
Other designations IRAS 17430-2848, G000.16-00.06
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

The Quintuplet cluster is a dense cluster of massive young stars near the Galactic Center (GC). Its name comes from the fact it has five prominent supergiant stars residing in it.[2] Along with the Arches cluster it is one of two in the immediate GC region. Due to heavy extinction by dust in the vicinity, it is invisible to optical observation and must be studied in the X-ray, radio, and infrared bands.

The Quintuplet cluster is approximately 4 million years old, and has a mass in excess of 10,000 times that of the Sun. It also contains the Pistol star, one of the most luminous in the Galaxy, which is probably close to becoming a supernova.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hubble Spies Giant Star Clusters Near Galactic Center". HubbleSite: NewsCenter. September 16, 1999. http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/1999/30/text/. 
  2. ^ History Television, 'The Universe', "The Search for Cosmic Clusters", season 4, episode 7
  3. ^ Figer, Don; et al. (1999). "Hubble Space Telescope/NICMOS Observations of Massive Stellar Clusters near the Galactic Center". ApJ 525 (2): 750. arXiv:astro-ph/9906299. Bibcode 1999ApJ...525..750F. doi:10.1086/307937. 

External links