The globular star cluster Messier 54

This image from the VLT Survey Telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in northern Chile shows the globular cluster Messier 54. This cluster looks very similar to many others, but it has a secret. Messier 54 doesn’t belong to the Milky Way, but actually is part of a small satellite galaxy, the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. This unusual parentage has allowed astronomers to use the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to test whether unexpectedly low levels of the element lithium in stars are also found in  stars outside the Milky Way.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1428a
Type:Observation
Release date:10 September 2014, 12:00
Related releases:eso1428
Size:17208 x 16310 px

About the Object

Name:M 54
Type:Local Universe : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular
Distance:90000 light years
Constellation:Sagittarius
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

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Coordinates

Position (RA):18 55 3.58
Position (Dec):-30° 28' 32.64"
Field of view:61.39 x 58.18 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Ultraviolet
u
VLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
g
VLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Optical
r
VLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM