We generally think of the Andromeda Galaxy as a neighboring galaxy that lives next door to us, and is closest to our own Milky Way. But even though Andromeda is our neighbor, it is not in orbit around the Milky Way. In fact, there are dozens of neighboring galaxies or satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. Of course, these are much closer to us than Andromeda.
Neighboring galaxies or satellite galaxies, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), have become areas of study for astronomers. Recently, astronomers from NASA revealed the use of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is a collaborative device between NASA and the European Space Agency. Look at the Large Magellanic Cloud Galaxy. It is located 162 thousand light-years away and can be easily seen with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere under dark sky conditions and away from light pollution. They have discovered a dense cluster of stars, called “globular clusters” named NGC 1841, which astronomers say could provide insight into star formation in the galaxy's early days.
The reason for this is that this type of cluster has a certain stability, that is, it is very stable and maintains its shape for a long time. This means that globular clusters are generally very old. There are many old stars. Globular clusters look similar to fossils or fossils found in the sky. The Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy is a good place to study. Because it is the location of many globular clusters.
Image source: ESA/Hubble and NASA, A. Sarajdini
“Reader. Infuriatingly humble coffee enthusiast. Future teen idol. Tv nerd. Explorer. Organizer. Twitter aficionado. Evil music fanatic.”