APOD: NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster (2024 Jul 02)

[APOD Robot]

NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster

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. Surrounded by its birth shell of gas and dust, star cluster NGC 602 is featured in this stunning Hubble image, augmented in a rollover by images in the X-ray by the Chandra Observatory and in the infrared by Spitzer Telescope. Fantastic ridges and swept back gas strongly suggest that energetic radiation and shock waves from NGC 602's massive young stars have eroded the dusty material and triggered a progression of star formation moving away from the star cluster's center. At the estimated distance of the Small Magellanic Cloud, the featured picture spans about 200 light-years, but a tantalizing assortment of background galaxies are also visible in this sharp view. The background galaxies are hundreds of millions of light-years -- or more -- beyond NGC 602.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

[AVAO]

NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster

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. Surrounded by its birth shell of gas and dust, star cluster NGC 602 is featured in this stunning Hubble image, augmented in a rollover by images in the X-ray by the Chandra Observatory and in the infrared by Spitzer Telescope. Fantastic ridges and swept back gas strongly suggest that energetic radiation and shock waves from NGC 602's massive young stars have eroded the dusty material and triggered a progression of star formation moving away from the star cluster's center. At the estimated distance of the Small Magellanic Cloud, the featured picture spans about 200 light-years, but a tantalizing assortment of background galaxies are also visible in this sharp view. The background galaxies are hundreds of millions of light-years -- or more -- beyond NGC 602.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

...nice cosmic aquarium up there...

Click to view full size image

Original data: NASA/ESA/CSA WEBBLE (HST/JWST) jac berne (flickr)

[Ann]

Don't know how to reproduce the mouseover, so...

NGC 602. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration

---

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

---

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!

Click to view full size image

I love the central star cluster of NGC 602:

A multitude of small stars among the big bright ones.

How many small stars can you spot in the Pleiades that are obvious members of the cluster and not background stars? Credit: Manfred_Konrad

---

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

[Ann]

NGC 602: Oyster Star Cluster

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. Surrounded by its birth shell of gas and dust, star cluster NGC 602 is featured in this stunning Hubble image, augmented in a rollover by images in the X-ray by the Chandra Observatory and in the infrared by Spitzer Telescope. Fantastic ridges and swept back gas strongly suggest that energetic radiation and shock waves from NGC 602's massive young stars have eroded the dusty material and triggered a progression of star formation moving away from the star cluster's center. At the estimated distance of the Small Magellanic Cloud, the featured picture spans about 200 light-years, but a tantalizing assortment of background galaxies are also visible in this sharp view. The background galaxies are hundreds of millions of light-years -- or more -- beyond NGC 602.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

...nice cosmic aquarium up there...

Click to view full size image

Original data: NASA/ESA/CSA WEBBLE (HST/JWST) jac berne (flickr)

Oh wow, that's an awesome awesome awesome image of the central star cluster of NGC 602, Jac!

I'm so so so tempted to steal it from you and insert it into my own post, but I managed to restrain myself (just barely)!

But I will upload it to my computer!

Ann

[JohnD]

Curious Congruence!
Today's EARTH Picture of the Day is "Villarrica Volcano and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds".
https://epod.usra.edu/

[Christian G.]

Dazzling cluster! It made me think of another one of similar shape - though more dazzling still! - NGC 3603.

(Hubble)

[yukonlilye2021@gmail.com]

I can imagine the oyster, but I'm "seeing" the face of a baby (facing to the right, the left eye, nose (slit opening not distinct nostril openings), open mouth)....

[Lee]

I can imagine the oyster, but I'm "seeing" the face of a baby (facing to the right, the left eye, nose (slit opening not distinct nostril openings), open mouth)....

I see a profile also but I see it as a woman with a large, sparkly earring.

[AVAO]

[...]
Oh wow, that's an awesome awesome awesome image of the central star cluster of NGC 602, Jac!
I'm so so so tempted to steal it from you and insert it into my own post, but I managed to restrain myself (just barely)!
But I will upload it to my computer!
Ann

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

[johnnydeep]

I can imagine the oyster, but I'm "seeing" the face of a baby (facing to the right, the left eye, nose (slit opening not distinct nostril openings), open mouth)....

I see a profile also but I see it as a woman with a large, sparkly earring.

And I see Frankenstein's Monster! Ain't pareidolia grand?

[Ann]

[...]
Oh wow, that's an awesome awesome awesome image of the central star cluster of NGC 602, Jac!
I'm so so so tempted to steal it from you and insert it into my own post, but I managed to restrain myself (just barely)!
But I will upload it to my computer!
Ann

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

It's so blue!!!

Ann

[johnnydeep]

[...]
Oh wow, that's an awesome awesome awesome image of the central star cluster of NGC 602, Jac!
I'm so so so tempted to steal it from you and insert it into my own post, but I managed to restrain myself (just barely)!
But I will upload it to my computer!
Ann

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

It's so blue!!!

Ann

Yes, I love that coloring. It's positively sapphirine!

It reminds me of something I can't quite remember. Maybe something from The Little Prince, or some pleasant fairy tale. Or maybe this:

Click to view full size image

Do you have a larger version of this, Jac? It's worthy of being a desktop background.

[Anonymus]

I think the high x-ray source near the mid-left of the image (just above the star with a bow shock) is interesting, It appears relatively small and dim compared to the two bright stars flanking it. It makes me wonder if it is a black hole with an accretion disk.

[AVAO]

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

It's so blue!!!

Ann

Yes, I love that coloring. It's positively sapphirine!

It reminds me of something I can't quite remember. Maybe something from The Little Prince, or some pleasant fairy tale. Or maybe this:

Click to view full size image

Do you have a larger version of this, Jac? It's worthy of being a desktop background.

Cool. Yes please:

Click to view full size image

Click to view full size image

Download: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... a8cb_b.jpg
CC BY jac berne (flickr)

[AVAO]

[...]
Oh wow, that's an awesome awesome awesome image of the central star cluster of NGC 602, Jac!
I'm so so so tempted to steal it from you and insert it into my own post, but I managed to restrain myself (just barely)!
But I will upload it to my computer!
Ann

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

It's so blue!!!

Ann

For this version I was inspired by the picture in SSDR10...
The colors of my picture come from there.

Click to view full size image

[Ann]

ThanX Ann

I feel honored. All my pictures have a CC license with attribution for free use.
I do this... for pure fun and to challenge myself a little in the morning before I can dive back into my daily work routine.
... and of course also to be able to talk to you about exciting astronomical topics!


Jac

Click to view full size image

christmas special edition 4 you

biggg: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... 0ea7_o.jpg

It's so blue!!!

Ann

For this version I was inspired by the picture in SSDR10...
The colors of my picture come from there.

Click to view full size image

What is SSDR10?

Ann

[JohnD]

Another Cosmic Congruence! Some one above saw a baby's face in these stars. The latest issue of New Scientist has this cover picture:

[johnnydeep]

It's so blue!!!

Ann

Yes, I love that coloring. It's positively sapphirine!

It reminds me of something I can't quite remember. Maybe something from The Little Prince, or some pleasant fairy tale. Or maybe this:

Click to view full size image

Do you have a larger version of this, Jac? It's worthy of being a desktop background.

Cool. Yes please:

Click to view full size image

Click to view full size image

Download: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/538 ... a8cb_b.jpg
CC BY jac berne (flickr)

Nice! I'm amazed you were able to see such an exact correspondence between the DreamWorks logo and this APOD. But you must have stretched it a bit (along with rotating it slightly) to make it match so closely, right?

Also, is that the highest resolution you have? It's still only 1024 × 576 and just 124 kB.