by Ann » Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:09 am
Don't know how to reproduce the mouseover, so...
As you can see, the X-ray sources (purple) are not coincident with the brightest stars of NGC 602. There are two X-ray sources at the rim of a dust structure at lower right, and one at a smilar struture at upper left, and one or all of them may possibly be linked to star formation in NGC 602 itself. Or not. I guess it is possible one or two of the X-ray sources could be neutron stars created in supernova explosions in NGC 602, but I don't know - NGC 602 looks too undisturbed to have been wracked by a supernova, or at least I think so. So I would say that the X-ray sources generally don't belong to NGC 602 and are just seen in the direction of it. But what do I know?
The Hubble picture of NGC 602 is indeed spectacular, and the oyster shell shape of the nebula is marvelous, but it's a bit scary too. It reminds me not only of an oyster but also of a shark with a gaping mouth!
I love the central star cluster of NGC 602:
A multitude of small stars among the big bright ones.
The central cluster contains perhaps ~10 very bright stars and a multitude of small stars. All star clusters contain many more small faint stars than big bright ones, but we typically don't see the small stars in pictures of clusters. The reason why we see the small stars mixed with the large ones in NGC 602 may be that this cluster is so young that the big stars have not had time to kick the small stars away from the cluster center. Also there are very few background stars to be seen near this cluster to confuse us.
So where is NGC 602 located? It is located in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud:
The Small Magellanic Cloud and globular clusters NGC 104 and NGC 362
and nebula NGC 602. Credit: Dan Crowson
NGC 602 and friends is an awesome sight:
NGC 602 (labeled) and Henize 89. Credit: Tom Peter AKA Astrovetteman
I think I can see Jiminy Cricket to the left of NGC 602 in Astrovetteman's image. Look at that large blue (should have been green) head.
I also really recommend
this image by gmadkat. I can't post it, because it is too large, and I have used up my attachments. But do take a look at it!
Ann
Don't know how to reproduce the mouseover, so...
[float=left][img3="NGC 602. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration"]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/NGC602.jpg/1049px-NGC602.jpg[/img3][/float][float=right][img3="NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster.
Image Credit: X-ray: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Univ.Potsdam/L.Oskinova et al;
Optical: Hubble: NASA/STScI; Infrared: Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech"]https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2407/Ngc602_ChandraHubbleSpitzer_960.jpg[/img3][/float]
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As you can see, the X-ray sources (purple) are not coincident with the brightest stars of NGC 602. There are two X-ray sources at the rim of a dust structure at lower right, and one at a smilar struture at upper left, and one or all of them may possibly be linked to star formation in NGC 602 itself. Or not. I guess it is possible one or two of the X-ray sources could be neutron stars created in supernova explosions in NGC 602, but I don't know - NGC 602 looks too undisturbed to have been wracked by a supernova, or at least I think so. So I would say that the X-ray sources generally don't belong to NGC 602 and are just seen in the direction of it. But what do I know? :wink:
The Hubble picture of NGC 602 is indeed spectacular, and the oyster shell shape of the nebula is marvelous, but it's a bit scary too. It reminds me not only of an oyster but also of a shark with a gaping mouth!
[img2]https://c8.alamy.com/comp/AY6HWD/gaping-mouth-and-jaw-of-a-great-white-shark-carcharodon-carcharias-AY6HWD.jpg[/img2]
😲
I love the central star cluster of NGC 602:
[float=left][attachment=2]NGC 602.png[/attachment][c][size=85][color=#0040FF]A multitude of small stars among the big bright ones.[/color][/size][/c][/float][float=right][img3="How many small stars can you spot in the Pleiades that are obvious members of the cluster and not background stars? Credit: Manfred_Konrad"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nwRnUEaELuneFsNgbF7vKM-970-80.jpg.webp[/img3][/float]
[clear][/clear]
The central cluster contains perhaps ~10 very bright stars and a multitude of small stars. All star clusters contain many more small faint stars than big bright ones, but we typically don't see the small stars in pictures of clusters. The reason why we see the small stars mixed with the large ones in NGC 602 may be that this cluster is so young that the big stars have not had time to kick the small stars away from the cluster center. Also there are very few background stars to be seen near this cluster to confuse us.
So where is NGC 602 located? It is located in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud:
[float=left][attachment=0]Small Magellanic Cloud and NGC 602 Dan Crowson.png[/attachment][c][size=85][color=#0040FF]The Small Magellanic Cloud and globular clusters NGC 104 and NGC 362
and nebula NGC 602. Credit: Dan Crowson[/color][/size][/c][/float]
[clear][/clear]
NGC 602 and friends is an awesome sight:
[float=left][attachment=1]NGC 602 and Henize 89 HLRGB Tom Peter AKA Astrovetteman.png[/attachment][c][size=85][color=#0040FF]NGC 602 (labeled) and Henize 89. Credit: Tom Peter AKA Astrovetteman[/color][/size][/c][/float]
[clear][/clear]
I think I can see Jiminy Cricket to the left of NGC 602 in Astrovetteman's image. Look at that large blue (should have been green) head.
I also really recommend [url=https://www.astrobin.com/qkpub8/]this image[/url] by gmadkat. I can't post it, because it is too large, and I have used up my attachments. But do take a look at it! :D
Ann