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Old 14-04-2014, 09:12 PM
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madbadgalaxyman (Robert)
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Brisbane
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
Thanks for some great information Dana and Robert. Again you have both added so much to the observing experience!
Really massive and luminous Star Clusters are exciting objects;
pity that NGC 3603, Westerlund 1 and Westerlund 2 are greatly dimmed by many magnitudes of dust extinction!

I just came upon this fantastic map that shows where the so-far discovered Very Massive young clusters are in our galaxy!(known clusters of at least 10,000 solar masses)

(note that the distance of Westerlund 2 is not settled as yet)

Click image for larger version

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I suspect that it is quite possible to visually detect some "super star clusters" in other galaxies, though it would be a great challenge. The most massive of these clusters can be three or four magnitudes more luminous than Omega Centauri.
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