Hubble Telescope Uncovers 'Missing' Globular Cluster Hidden in Plain Sight
📷 Image source: nasa.gov
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a previously overlooked globular cluster, shining new light on a celestial object that had long evaded detailed observation. The cluster, known as NGC 6380, was often mistaken for a nearby star due to its obscured location in the Milky Way's crowded bulge. Hubble's sharp vision cut through the cosmic clutter, providing astronomers with a clearer view of this ancient stellar grouping.
Globular clusters like NGC 6380 are dense collections of stars, some dating back nearly as far as the universe itself. This particular cluster had been cataloged before but never studied in depth because of its position behind interstellar dust. Hubble's advanced imaging capabilities allowed researchers to resolve individual stars within the cluster, offering insights into its composition and age.
Additional observations from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile corroborate Hubble's findings, confirming NGC 6380's status as a genuine globular cluster rather than a random grouping of stars. These joint observations help astronomers better understand how such clusters form and evolve in galactic environments.
The discovery underscores Hubble's continued value to astronomy decades after its launch. Even as newer telescopes like JWST take center stage, Hubble's unique capabilities in visible and ultraviolet light remain unmatched for certain observations. This finding also highlights how much of our own galaxy remains unexplored, with hidden treasures still waiting to be uncovered in seemingly familiar regions of space.
