Massive Stars in Open Cluster Pismis 24 November 10, 2008
Posted by jtintle in Deep Space, Space Fotos.Tags: APoD, Emission Nebula, ESA, Hubble Space Telescope, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, J. M. Apellániz, NASA, NGC 6357, Pismis 24, Spain
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How massive can a normal star be? Estimates made from distance, brightness and standard solar models had given one star in the open cluster Pismis 24 over 200 times the mass of our Sun, making it a record holder. This star is the brightest object located just above the gas front in the above image. Close inspection of images taken recently with the Hubble Space Telescope, however, have shown that Pismis 24-1 derives its brilliant luminosity not from a single star but from three at least. Component stars would still remain near 100 solar masses, making them among the more massive stars currently on record. Toward the bottom of the image, stars are still forming in the associated emission nebula NGC 6357, including several that appear to be breaking out and illuminating a spectacular cocoon.
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fabulous!
ITS GREAT
Just to think, we can’t (at least I can’t) really grasp the size of earth, let a lone the sun. And this is 200 times bigger….