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> M11 open cluster in Scutum

M11 open cluster in Scutum

author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix

reference: a-aou67-05004

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm

Clusters of bright blue stars like M11 are found scattered among the spiral arms of the Milky Way and other galaxies like it. They are a clear sign that star formation is active, because such clusters are usually very young and short lived. The stars in M11 all formed from the same material and at about the same time, a few million years ago. In 100 million years or so, all the brightest stars in the group will have evolved into cool supergiants and exploded as supernovae, leaving behind large numbers of low mass, relatively faint stars whose lives will be much longer and whose end will be much less dramatic. Located in the constellation of Scutum, it is sometimes mistaken for a loose globular cluster. M11 is also called the "Wild Duck Cluster" because of it's resemblance to a flight of wild ducks when viewed in a telescope. M11, with an overall brightness of magnitude 5.8, contains as many as 500 stars ranging from 8th magnitude down to 14th magnitude.  

Keywords for this photo:

1993 - AAO - ASTRONOMY - M11 - NGC 6705 - OPEN CLUSTER - POSTER - SCUTUM - SIDING SPRING - STAR - STAR CLUSTER -