Hubble Reveals Hidden Globular Cluster's Beauty

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the globular cluster ESO 591-12, also known as Palomar 8. This cluster, composed of tens of thousands to millions of stars, is a part of the Milky Way's globular cluster system. These clusters are tightly bound by gravity and typically form early in a galaxy's history. The image reveals a dense array of stars, with red stars indicating cooler temperatures and blue stars representing hotter ones.

Hubble's observations are part of the Missing Globular Clusters Survey, which aims to study 34 confirmed but previously unobserved Milky Way globular clusters. This initiative seeks to provide comprehensive data on the ages and distances of these clusters, offering insights into the early stages of our galaxy.

Hubble's ability to distinguish individual stars in such compact clusters marks a significant advancement over earthbound telescopes, enhancing our understanding of these celestial formations.