Star Clusters

Introduction to Astrophotography Meets RAG aided Large Language Models.

 AstroLLM Assistant generated:

"Star Cluster": "A star cluster is a group of stars that are gravitationally bound together and are typically found in the same galaxy. Star clusters can be classified into two main types: open clusters and globular clusters.",

"Globular Cluster": "A globular cluster is a type of star cluster that is densely packed and contains hundreds of thousands to millions of stars. Globular clusters are typically found in the outer regions of galaxies and are thought to be among the oldest objects in the universe.",

"Open Cluster": "An open cluster is a type of star cluster that is less densely packed than a globular cluster and typically contains between a few dozen to a few hundred stars. Open clusters are often found in the disk of a galaxy and are thought to be relatively young, with ages ranging from a few million to a few billion years."

Astro-LLM Assistant generated:

"Distance from Earth in light-years": 55,000,

"Size or Diameter in light-years": 175,

"Constellation": "Aquarius",

"Messier number": "M2",

"Cluster type": "Globular cluster"

The cluster type is called a globular cluster because it is a spherical cluster of stars that is typically found in the outer regions of the galaxy. Globular clusters are thought to be the oldest and most metal-poor clusters in the galaxy, and they are often found in the galactic halo.

Astro-LLM Assistant generated:

"Distance from Earth in light-years": 22,200,

"Size or Diameter in light-years": 145,

"Constellation": Hercules,

"Messier number": M13,

"Cluster type": Globular cluster

The cluster type is called a globular cluster because it is a spherical cluster of stars that is densely packed and has a high concentration of stars towards its center.

According to the provided context, the major galaxies and stars that appear near or in the constellation of Messier 13 are:

1. NGC 6207: a 12th-magnitude edge-on galaxy that lies 28 arcminutes directly northeast of Messier 13.

2. IC 4617: a small galaxy that lies halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, north-northeast of the large globular cluster's center.

3. Zeta Herculis: a bright star in the Keystone asterism, which is used to locate Messier 13.

4. Eta Herculis: another bright star in the Keystone asterism, which is used to locate Messier 13.

5. Vega: a bright star that is about one third of the way from Messier 13 to Arcturus.

6. Arcturus: a bright star that is about two thirds of the way from Messier 13 to Vega.

Note that these galaxies and stars are not part of the Messier 13 globular cluster itself, but rather appear nearby in the constellation of Hercules.

Author: MZH ©   A personal hobby project

Title Image:  Dumbbell Nebula snapped by MZH