Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for July 2, 2024 is “NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster,” an image. It is credited to Image Credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al; Optical: Hubble: NASA/STScI; Infrared: Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech. The original explanation runs about 175 words.

A star cluster is shown in and around a gas cloud that looks like an oyster. The rollover image shows the same cluster not only in visible light, but X-ray and infrared too. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Credit: Image Credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al; Optical: Hubble: NASA/STScI; Infrared: Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“The clouds may look like an oyster, and the stars like pearls, but look beyond. Near the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud , a satellite galaxy some 200 thousand light-years distant, lies this 5 million year old star cluster NGC 602 .”

— APOD editors, July 2, 2024

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
July 2, 2024
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al; Optical: Hubble: NASA/STScI; Infrared: Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 175 words

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Topics in this entry

GalaxiesStar clusters

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

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Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.