Blayne

Blayne published an article

Messier 19

Messier 19 (M19) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus, notable for its distinct elongated, oval shape, which is caused by the strong tidal forces from the Milky Way's center, as it's located on the far side of the galactic core from Earth. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, it appears as a fuzzy patch in binoculars but can be resolved into individual stars with larger telescopes, and it's best observed in the summer.
Type: Globular cluster (NGC 6273)
Location: Constellation Ophiuchus, near the plane of the Milky Way
Distance: Approximately 28,700 light-years from Earth, but only about 6,500 light-years from the galactic center
Appearance: Distinctly oval or "oblate," unlike most spherical globular clusters, due to tidal forces from the galactic center
Visibility: Apparent magnitude of about 7.7, making it visible as a faint patch with binoculars and resolvable with larger telescopes
Best viewing: Mid-summer
Its elongated shape is less apparent in…

Blayne published an article

Ngc 2808

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…

Blayne published an article

Magnetar

A magnetar is a rare and powerful type of neutron star with an exceptionally strong magnetic field, ranging from 1013 to 1015 Gauss. They are considered the most magnetic objects in the universe, with fields millions of times stronger than the sun's. Here's a quick overview of magnetars:
Formation The stellar process that leads to a magnetar can take billions of years. Recent research suggests that less massive stars can become magnetars under the right conditions.
Structure Magnetars are neutron stars, which are the dead remnants of stars and are made entirely of neutrons.
Magnetic field A magnetar's magnetic field begins to decay after about 10,000 years.
Lifespan Magnetars have a short cosmic life, but scientists estimate there may be up to 30 million inactive magnetars in the Milky Way.

Blayne published an article

Ngc 4372

NGC 4372 is a large, faint globular star cluster in the southern constellation Musca, located about 19,000 light-years away and near the Dark Doodad Nebula. Discovered by James Dunlop in 1826, it's known as Caldwell 108 and appears as a large, diffuse patch of stars, partially obscured by dust lanes, making it a challenging but rewarding target for southern hemisphere observers with binoculars or telescopes.
Key characteristics
Type: Globular cluster (a dense, spherical collection of stars).
Location: Constellation Musca, near the Dark Doodad Nebula.
Distance: Approximately 19,000 light-years from Earth.
Appearance: A large, faint, and diffuse object, about 10 arcminutes in diameter, with a unique, elongated shape due to foreground dust.
Observability: Best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, highest in the sky during the autumn months.
Classification: Classified as a Shapley-Sawyer class XII cluster, indicating it's very loose and sparse.