Globular clusters are captivating celestial structures, known for their densely packed spherical arrangement of stars that span across tens of light years in diameter. These clusters have a core that becomes denser due to the mutual gravitational pull among the stars. Terzan 12 one globular cluster presents a fascinating opportunity to study how interstellar dust affects our perception of the colors of celestial objects.
Terzan 12; A Globular Cluster in Sagittarius
Within our galaxy the Milky Way there are around 150 globular clusters. Among them is the intriguing Terzan 12. The Hubble Space Telescope has captured detailed images of Terzan 12 which is situated approximately 15,000 light years away from Earth within the constellation Sagittarius.
Interstellar Dust and Its Impact; Insights from Terzan 12
The observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope have significantly enhanced our understanding of how dust influences celestial objects. This cosmic dust possesses a property; it absorbs blue radiation while allowing red wavelengths to pass through. For example lets consider a star that emits light. If there is dust, between Earth and this star it will absorb the blue light emitted by the star but let only red light reach us. As a result when observed from Earths perspective this star will appear red of its original yellow color.
Terzan 12s Unusual Position and the Impact of Dust
Unlike globular clusters that are typically found far above the Milky Ways galactic plane Terzan 12 presents a unique situation. It is positioned in line with the center of our galaxy an area rich in interstellar dust. The light emitted by its stars has to travel through this dust before reaching Earth, which causes some changes along the way. However this dust is not spread evenly. Exists in clusters or patches. As a result when we observe Terzan 12 we can see parts of it through the dust while other parts remain unaffected. This effect can be clearly seen in the Hubbles image of Terzan 12; the upper section of the cluster appears reddish due to interference from dust particles while the lower part, with dust appears yellowish or bluish.
In Conclusion
Studying clusters, like Terzan 12 and how they interact with interstellar dust helps us unravel the complexities of our vast universe. These celestial investigations continue to revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics at play.
*Image credit; NASA, ESA, ESA/Hubble, Roger Cohen (RU).
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