Behold: globular star cluster Omega Centauri, also known as NGC 5139. To wit:
…some 15,000 light-years away, the cluster is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun within a volume about 150 light-years in diameter. It’s the largest and brightest of 200 or so known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy. Though most star clusters consist of stars with the same age and composition, the enigmatic Omega Cen exhibits the presence of different stellar populations with a spread of ages and chemical abundances. In fact, Omega Cen may be the remnant core of a small galaxy merging with the Milky Way.
Full sized image here.
(Image: Michael Miller, Jimmy Walker)
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Surely one of those old stars had an orbiting satellite full of meatbags like us?
…mathematically probable…unlike god…any god…
Fun fact – ‘My God, it’s full of stars’ was never uttered by Dave Bowman in 2001. It only featured in the book which contained the original plot. It was used in the sequel film 2010 to add more mystery to Bowman’s supposed whereabouts..
if there is, i bet one of the first things they invented was sunglasses.
“a small galaxy”? good grief, there’s an oxymoron if ever I saw one!
Awesome