Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of
our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief
explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2011 May 3
Explanation: Stars, like bees, swarm around the center of bright
globular cluster M15. This ball of over 100,000 stars is a relic
from the early years of our Galaxy, and continues to orbit the
Milky Way's center. M15, one of about 150 globular clusters
remaining, is noted for being easily visible with only
binoculars, having at its center one of the densest
concentrations of stars known, and containing a high abundance
of variable stars and pulsars. This sharp image, taken by the
Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope, spans about 120 light
years. It shows the dramatic increase in density of stars toward
the cluster's center. M15 lies about 35,000 light years away
toward the constellation of the Winged Horse (Pegasus). Recent
evidence indicates that a massive black hole might reside as the
center of M15. Authors & editors: Jerry B