images

Planet close to a globular cluster - Artist view

by

Walter B. Myers/Novapix

Reference

a-exo99-20003

Date

2009-07-16

A globular cluster seen from the surface of a hypothetical planet.
This cluster contains about 50,000 stars and is riding high above our own Milky Way galaxy. Like other globular clusters, it may be the remnant of the core of a small galaxy long ago adsorbed by the larger Milky Way. There may even be a black hole lurking at its center.
Globular clusters usually contain very old stars. Any planets to be found in one would likely be much older than the Earth.