The Jewel Box star cluster
author: R.Gendler/Novapix
reference: a-aou47-55003
Image Size 300 DPI: 34 * 22 cm
NGC 4755 (Caldwell 94) is called the Jewel Box, based on John Herschel's comment in the 1830's that it looked like a superb piece of jewelry. There are about 50 stars in this cluster which formed some 14 million years ago. Most of the cluster members are blue giants which in a few million years will exhaust their hydrogen fuel and become red giants on their way to a cataclysmic end as supernovae. One red giant can already be seen at the center of the cluster.