Omega Centauri
Globular cluster in the constellation Centaurus / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Omega Centauri (ω Cen, NGC 5139, or Caldwell 80) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Centaurus that was first identified as a non-stellar object by Edmond Halley in 1677. Located at a distance of 17,090 light-years (5,240 parsecs), it is the largest-known globular cluster in the Milky Way at a diameter of roughly 150 light-years.[10] It is estimated to contain approximately 10 million stars, and a total mass equivalent to 4 million solar masses,[11] making it the most massive-known globular cluster in the Milky Way.
Omega Centauri | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Class | VIII[1] |
Constellation | Centaurus |
Right ascension | 13h 26m 47.28s[2] |
Declination | −47° 28′ 46.1″[2] |
Distance | 15.8 ± 1.1 kly (4.84 ± 0.34 kpc)[3] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 3.9[4] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 36′.3[5] |
Physical characteristics | |
Mass | (4.05±0.1)×106[6] M☉ |
Radius | 86 ± 6 ly[7] |
Metallicity | = –1.35[8] dex |
Estimated age | 11.52 Gyr[8] |
Other designations | NGC 5139,[9] GCl 24,[9] ω Centauri,[3] Caldwell 80, Mel 118 |
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters |
Omega Centauri is very different from most other galactic globular clusters to the extent that it is thought to have originated as the core remnant of a disrupted dwarf galaxy.[12]