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Old 06-10-2013, 08:17 PM
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madbadgalaxyman (Robert)
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 936
Mike,

Oooh look at the pretty galaxy! (not a typical comment for madbadgalaxyman)

Like NGC 300, this galaxy has a bright "stellar-like appearance" nuclear star cluster at its centre. These objects structurally resemble globular clusters, but nuclear star clusters often contain stars of various ages. Also, these nuclear clusters can get several magns more luminous than the most luminous globular star cluster.
(A nuclear star cluster is not nearly as extended as even a small spheroidal bulge component within a spiral galaxy)

How much of the light from the central object in your image is the actual star cluster and how much is from the dense array of stars around it, is an open question.

For even more excitement about supermassive galactic star clusters, nuclear star clusters, young globular clusters, and other unusual clusters, see this thread:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=105102

Also, refer to this paper about nuclear star clusters:

http://star-www.herts.ac.uk/~sarzi/P...ersinLateS.pdf
_______________

True Anecdote from a star party:

Observer 1 (waving his arms in excitement, and literally screaming with joy) :: "There's a -1 magnitude comet blazing in the sky!!#$%%^!!!!!"
Madbadgalaxyman (as he peers at a very faint galaxy with his telescope) :: "Tell this to someone who cares! I won't let this unimportant announcement distract me, even for a second, from viewing this vanishingly faint galaxy!"

Last edited by madbadgalaxyman; 06-10-2013 at 08:29 PM.
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