Dorado Globular Cluster

NGC 1866 Globular clusterSquare format image NGC 1866 is a star cluster located at the edges of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small galaxy near the Milky Way. Discovered in 1826 by astronomer James Dunlop, this cluster stands out because it is relatively young and close enough to study its individual stars. Most stars in globular clusters are old and have low metallicity, meaning they formed from material with few heavy elements. NGC 1866, however, contains different generations of stars, suggesting a second wave of star formation after the initial population. This unique feature contributes to its youthful appearance. The image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3. Note: This is a square format image. Also, this image is extremely high resolution and produces tack-sharp prints at virtually any size.