NGC 2808 is a massive globular cluster in the constellation Carina, containing over a million stars and belonging to the Milky Way, likely captured from a dwarf galaxy. It's notable for having multiple stellar populations, challenging the traditional view that all stars in a cluster form at the same time, with Hubble Space Telescope observations revealing three distinct generations of stars that formed early in its 12.5-billion-year history.
Type: Globular cluster (a dense swarm of stars).
Location: Constellation Carina, visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
Mass: One of the most massive in the Milky Way, with over a million stars.
Age: Estimated to be 12.5 billion years old, with stars forming within 200 million years of its birth.
Discovery: Discovered by James Dunlop in 1826.
Multiple stellar populations: Unlike the standard model, NGC 2808 has three distinct generations of stars, suggesting multiple episodes of star formation.
Origin: It is theorized to be the remnant core of a dwarf galaxy that was absorbed by the Milky Way.
Hubble's role: Hubble Space Telescope images were crucial in identifying the different stellar populations by analyzing the brightness and color of its stars. Image Credit NASA, ESA, A. Sarajedini (University of Florida) and G. Piotto (University of Padua (Padova))
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