images

Open cluster M11 in Scutum

by

Stefan Seip/Novapix

Reference

a-aou67-05006

Date

2007-03-25

The image is of a young cluster of stars located in the direction of the Scutum constellation. This tight gathering of stars, known as the Wild Duck Cluster or M11, features about 2,900 individual members- most of them are approximately 250 million years old- the newest stars appear white-blue, the older ones have a yellowed appearance. This group of stars hangs in space about 5,000 light-years from Earth.