Artistic impression of NGC 6712 losing stars into the Milky Way halo

An artistic impression of the orbit of the globular cluster NGC 6712 in the Milky Way. Due to gravitational disruption, this cluster continuously loses stars, in particular light ones. This process is enhanced when it passes through the central plane in which most of the Galaxy's stars and nebulae are located. The cluster emerges in a less dense state after such a passage. The stars that are lost move on in orbits similar to that of the cluster and populate the halo of the Milky Way.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso9909c
Type:Artwork
Release date:18 February 1999
Related releases:eso9909
Size:2898 x 2790 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 6712
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular
Category:Illustrations

Image Formats

Large JPEG
570.6 KB
Screensize JPEG
67.9 KB

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79.4 KB
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117.1 KB
1600x1200
169.7 KB
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217.3 KB
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267.3 KB