Open Star Cluster Messier 21 in Sagittarius | Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The open star cluster Messier 21 as imaged by the National Science Foundation–Department of Energy Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Located near the Trifid Nebula, Messier 21 is relatively young and tightly packed with small, dim stars.
Messier 21 or M21, also designated NGC 6531 or Webb's Cross, is an open cluster of stars located to the north-east of Sagittarius in the night sky, close to the Messier objects M20 to M25 (except M24). It was discovered and cataloged by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764. This cluster is relatively young and tightly packed. A few blue giant stars have been identified in the cluster, but Messier 21 is composed mainly of small dim stars. With a magnitude of 6.5, M21 is not visible to the naked eye. However, with the smallest binoculars it can be easily spotted on a dark night. The cluster is positioned near the Trifid nebula (NGC 6514), but is not associated with that nebulosity. It forms part of the Sagittarius OB1 association.
This image was captured by the Rubin Observatory using the 3200-megapixel LSST Camera—the largest digital camera in the world. Rubin Observatory will scan the sky every night for 10 years, creating an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition, time-lapse record of our Universe.
Learn more about the new Vera Rubin Observatory:
Image Credit: RubinObs / NOIRLab / SLAC / NSF / DOE / AURA
Caption Credit: Wikipedia
Release Date: June 23, 2025
Release Date: June 23, 2025
#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #Messier21 #M21 #NGC6531 #StarClusters #Stars #BlueStars #StellarNursery #SagittariusOB1 #Sagittarius #Constellation #Universe #Cosmos #RubinObservatory #SST #LSSTCam #CerroPachón #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education
No comments:
Post a Comment