Globular Cluster Omega Centauri

About This Photograph

Omega Centauri is the largest globular cluster of the Milky Way. About 150 light years across, and with approximately 10 million stars, it is visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere. It appears almost as large as the full moon even though it is one of the more distant globulars at 17,000 light years from Earth. Scientists speculate that it is what remains of a dwarf galaxy that was disrupted and mostly absorbed billions of years ago.