NASA shares new Hubble image of globular cluster Messier 30
NASA has published a fresh Hubble Space Telescope photograph of the globular cluster Messier 30, also known as NGC 7099. The cluster lies roughly 27 500 light‑years from Earth in the constellation Capricornus and belongs to the Milky Way’s system of at least 150 globular clusters. Such clusters typically host tens of thousands to millions of stars and are estimated to be between 11.5 and 13.5 billion years old, making them some of the galaxy’s oldest structures.
Key facts
- Phys.org also reports the Hubble image shows Messier 30 (NGC 7099).
- Harlow Shapley used variable stars in globular clusters to locate the Sun away from the galaxy’s centre.
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Why it matters
The image highlights ancient stellar populations that help map the Milky Way’s history.
What changed
First published from NASA and Phys.org