Science

New Discovery: Globular Clusters Composed of Ancient Stars

The European Southern Observatory’s VISTA survey telescope recently discovered two clusters of very old stars inside our Milky Way galaxy.

These ‘globular clusters’ join only 158 other known clusters under this distinction in our galaxy, making them a relatively rare find. A globular cluster, according to Space.com, is composed of at least 100,000 stars and are among the oldest in the universe.

Although the cluster on the far right of the below image (UKS 1) steals the show, but scientists discovered using Vista survey data the fainter cluster in the center of the image (VVV CL001).

Astronomers Find Two New Globular Clusters Using Vista Telescope

On the right lies the globular star cluster UKS 1 and on the left lies a much less conspicuous new discovery, VVV CL001 — a previously unknown globular, one of just 160 known globular clusters in the Milky Way. The new globular appears as a faint grouping of stars about 25% of the width of the image from the left edge, and about 60% of the way from bottom to top. (Photo: ESO/D. Minniti/VVV Team)

The team found a second globular cluster (VVV CL002), which is the closest known to the center of the Milky Way (see below).

Astronomers Find Two New Globular Clusters Using Vista Telescope

Group of faint stars near the center of this image is a newly found globular cluster. (Photo: ESO/D. Minniti/VVV Team)

The VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey team found these new clusters as part of their study of the central parts of the Milky Way in infrared light.

Watch this video from Space.com that shows the difference between visible light and the infrared version that was able to locate these new clusters:

According to the release, UKS 1, which outshines the two new globular clusters, was previously the dimmest cluster in the Milky Way. Due to absorption and reddening of starlight by interstellar dust, these objects can only be seen in infrared light and VISTA, the world’s largest survey telescope, is ideally suited to searching for new clusters hidden behind dust in the central parts of the Milky Way

Comments (64)

  • MUDFLAPS
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 5:19pm

    which dot is it???

    Report Post »  
  • whywonder
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:48pm

    Why is story on the blaze? Beckers don’t believe in science particuarily when it comes out of some socialist country.

    Report Post »  
  • Tired-of-fools
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:35pm

    I wonder if these are the “sustainable stars” that the red headed dope from OWS was talking about in that video from the other day. He said that they would power our cars. How do we get them? Someone should find the dope and ask.

    Report Post »  
  • hi
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:01pm

    We see stars die but we have never seen a new star. That is because it is mathematically impossible. They were created. Evolutionists cannot scientifically explain how stars formed. Their theories are severely flawed mathematically and go against the laws of physics.

    See Walt Brown, PhD from MIT for explanation. Compelling Evidence for Flood

    Report Post » hi  
    • WSGAC
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:46pm

      Evidence for the Flood? Can you give us a date for the Flood then?

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:56pm

      Look at M-42 through a decent telescope.

      You’ve now seen stars in the process of being created.

      This has nothing to do with evolution, it has to do with simple facts.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • Abysmal
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:58pm

      Of course evolutionists cannot scientifically explain how stars are formed – this is completely outside their field of study. It is astrophysicists that take on this endeavor.

      Also, did you know that creationists also cannot scientifically explain how stars are formed? It’s true!

      Report Post » Abysmal  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:21am

    I hate not knowing about space and what’s beyond beyond…….. one of the reasons I believe in GOD. No scientist can explain the UNIVERSE and outer space, so I call it HEAVEN.

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • hi
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:02am

    Just the fact that there is a galaxy and it hasn’t flung apart by now shows that the universe is young. The stars are not ancient as claimed.
    Evolutionists invented dark matter because they couldn’t explain the intact galaxies. There is not enough matter to hold the galaxies together so dark matter which is not observed nor detected solves the problem and is the “glue” which holds them together…..
    Instead of deducting “young” from the facts, they refute it with fairy tales to hold onto their millions of years stupidity.

    Report Post » hi  
    • hi
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:11am

      PS If they admit that the universe is young as observed scientifically, it disproves evolution They need millions of years for their theory of “nothing magically turning into people” to work.

      Report Post » hi  
    • BobtheMoron
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:38am

      You can’t deduct from facts. However, you may deduce form the facts. Deduct is to reduce, deduce is to infer. You, Mullet Heads, need to work on your grammar. As for any nasty responses, Bite me!

      Report Post » BobtheMoron  
    • ByDawnsEarlyLight
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:15am

      So why cant 450 billion years be ‘young’? I would think that in the grand scheme of things 450 billion years would be the equivalent of a galactic sneeze, or heavenly hiccup if you will, lol. To us mere mortals thought, it is definitely ancient, as our lifespans would probably not even register on the meter. And Bob feel free to correct my grammar and everyone else anytime, I’m always up to learning.

      Report Post » ByDawnsEarlyLight  
    • WSGAC
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:58pm

      The Universe is NOT young, and we know this observationally. Simply go outsitde and fix your telescope on the Andromeda Galaxy. The light you see from Andromeda originated from Andromeda. The galaxy is nearly 2.5 million light years away. Consequently, the light that hits the back of your eye started its journey at least that long ago. Unless of course, God decided to create the light as not originating from Andromeda itself, but that would be deceptive. This is always the problem with young earth creationist nutjobs. Inevitably they have to explain a young universe through deceptive means, and a God of deceptive means.

      Report Post »  
    • Abysmal
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:40pm

      Astrophysicists invented dark matter as a hypothesis to explain a phenomenon that is not yet fully understood. This is not uncommon in science, and is an intentional practice designed to investigate new ideas. For example, when Dmitri Mendeleev published his periodic table of elements, he left gaps in places where patterns suggested there may have been undiscovered elements. He was also able to hypothesize on the properties of those undiscovered elements. In this case, Dmitri’s hypotheses were useful, as many of his predictions held to be true. If the existence of dark matter turns out to be inaccurate, it will be replaced with one or more alternate hypotheses to be discussed and tested. Hooray, Science!

      By the way, dark matter is mainly hypothesized to exist as an explanation for the acceleration of the expansion of the universe. The current popular theory that resolves how galaxies are held together is that each one has a black hole at its center (similar to how stars hold planetary systems together).

      Report Post » Abysmal  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:39am

    mmmm love eating milky way bars and drinking Dr. Pepper…it’s all I could afford to live on when I went to college. Better than a Pepsi and a moon pie. It separated the classes. One was lower middle class and the other, respectively, was upper lower class indulgence. lol jimho

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Carter John
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:14am

    “In the beginning God created the earth.” The more we learn about science the more we prove the Bible, the more we learn about archaeology the more we prove the Bible. The greatest of our scientists have declared multiple times in their lives their love for God. If the people who we herald as the forefront of the humanist revolution deny it, what does that say of us?

    Report Post » Carter John  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:38am

      Carter John, the opposite of your statement is true. The more we learn the less we need superstition. The very concept that if something excists, somebody must have created it is simply primitive thinking. You owe it to yourself to at least watch the series “How the Universe Was Made.” That will get you started on your journey out of the wilderness of superstition and false belief.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • ByDawnsEarlyLight
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:34am

      Whereas i agree that science and archeology have been able to pinoint events that could explain certain biblical catastrophes, I do not believe it negates anything in the bible. The message of Sodom and Gamorah(spelling?), was not that god will smite down and obliterate anything he doesnt agree with it was a message of personal responsibility, and taking care of yourself and yours in the event you may need to get the hell outta dodge.
      And Joe mabey you should check out the ‘Bible for Dummies’ and learn not to take things so literally and get a grasp of the deeper meaning of things like faith, a little spirituality never hurt anyone, just ask any deeply spiritual buddhist, hindu, wiccan, muslim and YES christian. Have a lovely day all. :D

      Report Post » ByDawnsEarlyLight  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:50am

      Bydawnsearly, I have no use for the supernatural fantasies of others. Living a good life and being fair and decent to others that cross my path has wroked out pretty well for me. I don’t need to scare little kids and tell them they are sinners and assemble in an untaxed building once a week for a dose of brainwashing. Spirituality is bunk. Being a decent human being is really where it’s at.

      Report Post » joei234  
  • carbonyes
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:59am

    In the beginning, God…….

    Report Post »  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:39am

      In the beginning, there was no beginning and there was no god.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • ByDawnsEarlyLight
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:06pm

      Whover used the bible and the word sinner to jack you up as a child, Joe, was a real SOB and I wish I could kick his/her ass for you. But the fact of the matter is THIS, you are being neither ‘fair’ nor ‘decent’ to anyone on this post, your relentless disrespect, intolerance and vitriol used against people in this posting has opened up a level of pity in my heart I usually reserve for severely abused children and animals, may you truly find peace in your life some day.

      Report Post » ByDawnsEarlyLight  
    • WSGAC
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 1:00pm

      Joe, you obviously have a flawed understanding of “infinite” if you actually believe your nonsense!

      Report Post »  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:55am

    Bad headline is bad.

    How is this news? Were they composed of fresh spanking new stars previously? No.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:54am

    Isn’t that way cool? It made my soul sing when I read that.

    The thought came to mind, “GOD loves all HIS creations and finds special places for them.“ HIS ”world” is not disposable as ours is. HE cherishes HIS creations….

    THANK YOU, GOD!

    Report Post »  
  • wakeup1
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:52am

    SHHHH. dont tell the Democraps ….or they will find something there to TAX!

    Report Post » wakeup1  
  • Kara_ite
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:44am

    Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
    Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.’

    I remember studying the Qur’an and the Hadiths, the so called For Profit Mohammad taught that the earth was flat, I guess his wooden headed moon god forgot to tell him that the Jews had a book that said the earth was round (spherical).

    Report Post » Kara_ite  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:39am

      As religions go, the Muslims have one of the worst.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:07am

      joei234,
      The more you learn about “How the Universe Works”, the more you should realize that some intelligent first cause made it to work that way.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:27am

      Quite the opposite qpwillie. The more mysteries that science explains, the less power superstition has over people.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:59am

      joei234,
      It’s not superstition. If you learn who the god of the Bible actually claimed himself to be in Exodus 3:14, you’ll see that Yahweh is a very scientific concept. Of course, you’d have to look beyond the modern translations of what was actually said (ie “I am the very Ayah” instead of “I am that I am” [and that's all what I am. I'm Popeye the sailor man.]” which is not what he actually said.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 11:55am

      God never said anything to anyone, because god is not real and has never existed. If god did exist, it would have been simple to make that known. I can think of several ways to do so without trying. The entire narrative of Christianity is simplistic, flawed and nonsensical and I reject it out of hand. Mormonsim is even more ridiculous. That Maureen Dowd article on it is excellent. Hitchins also laid out the absurdity of Mormonism in his recent article. THINK. Religion cannot stand the glare of common sense. It’s all a scam.

      Report Post » joei234  
  • Mivoyses
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:44am

    To those posters who brought up god.
    So just because we don’t know something yet, or don’t have answers to some questions we have to create a “god”?
    I thought we left the caves a while ago.

    Report Post »  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:06am

      Why does it disturb you so?

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:24am

      I didn’t create a god, God created me.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • novelator
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:31am

      If you really want absolute proof that God exists, the proof has been sitting there in your pretty little head since you first discovered two spoonfuls of Mommy’s pudding are better than one.

      Mathematics.

      Mathematics is a universal language that bridges all other languages here on this planet. Everything we know and do here is predicated on our understanding of math. And we’re born with this basic knowledge that one piece of candy plus one piece of candy equals more than just one piece of candy.

      Mathematics is the only language everyone on this planet speaks. The workings of the entire Universe, indeed, even down to the cells of your body, can be explained, thus proven or disproved, by math. All our modern conveniences–math. Even to the earliest recorded time of Man’s existence, Man did not exist without math–think seasons. Without math, none of us survive.

      So, then you have to ask yourself, who created Mathematics, this universal language? Why are we all born knowing it, innately, no one tells us, we just know instinctively? And then, if you’re the least bit honest with yourself or others, if you have that kind of courage, you have to admit that, at a minimum, there being this mathematical underpinning to the entire Universe, even a set of finite rules the make up a foundation, the base foundation of all Existence, there must also be a Mind behind it all.

      God is a mathematical certainty, if you dare, because God made math and gave it to us all. If n

      Report Post » novelator  
    • novelator
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:35am

      If not God, who?

      Who created Mathematics and instilled it inside of us all?

      Report Post » novelator  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:37am

      Here we go again with the hocus pocus. All of you should watch the series “How the Universe Works.” It may help clear up a lot of misconceptions you’re burdened with.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • Mia Cav
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:03am

      MIVOYSES: That is the most brillant treatis on God I have ever read! Thank you!

      Report Post »  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 8:34am

      Think about this: Who would have a truer understanding of the world: an ancient group of illiterate bronze age people or modern humans? Ancient people generated concepts to explain things as best they could. For modern people to accept their answers above their own is simply foolish and lazy. As understanding and information increases, new and more valid ideas and consepts follow and they should not be discounted. We‘re approaching a time where religion is irrelevant and when we’re finally there globally, it will be a positive step forward for everyone.

      Report Post » joei234  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:22am

      joei234,
      Where did the big bang occur? Time and space are products of the big bang so it couldn’t have been in empty space. Scientists say it was infinitely hot. There were no molecules to react so how could it have been hot? Heat is also a product of the universe.

      If one quark had acted differently, the whole universe thing wouldn’t have worked. Study what scientists call the “fine tuning” of the universe.

      I believe the whole thing requires an intelligent first cause. The term for that in ancient Hebrew would be “Yahweh”.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 9:31am

      NOVELATOR

      nicely said.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • joei234
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:12pm

      God is a man made idea and nothing more. If you think it’s all real, you are wrong. It’s not. Sorry.

      Report Post » joei234  
  • mikee1
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:37am

    See UFO INTERLOPERS and other UFO tales at Barnes and Noble NOOK and Amazon Kindle.

    Report Post » mikee1  
  • Mop
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:15am

    Nice! I love Astronomy :)

    Report Post » Mop  
  • MARCH4HIM
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 5:48am

    This is how ……..GOD ….does …….ARTWORKS

    Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
  • YepImaConservative
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 5:32am

    “Globular Clusters Composed of Ancient Stars” the movie….

    Starring…. Susan Sarandon and Martin Sheen.

    Report Post » YepImaConservative  
    • carbonyes
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:55am

      Yea, wont they be surprised when they wake up on the other side of life on earth. hope they get a chance to read the Book before it becomes too late for them. There is always hope while you are alive.

      Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 10:31am

      I’m taking it that the ancient stars are Sarandon and Sheen… and the Globular Clusters are a metaphor for the left? Lol.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • Tired-of-fools
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:57pm

      The only problem is that George Burns is no longer with us to play God.

      Report Post »  
  • C.Gallicchio
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 2:51am

    WOO-HOO a great shot of the Milky Way. have to use this one as my new desktop background.

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 7:10am

      Great idea (setting as background)…I was tired of my other one anyway.

      Report Post »  
  • PATRIOTGRUNT
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 1:59am

    Come on Blaze (Liz) here you go again. Still can’t get your facts straight. YOU ARE WRONG. You have forgotten to count the cluster in my pants. That makes it 161 Clusters . Got to go. Got to scratch the new found Cluster.

    Report Post » PATRIOTGRUNT  
  • knighttemplar999
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 1:42am

    I have to be more careful of what I eat. I just flushed some globular clusters and judging by the mammoth size of them and the difficulty of the ‘birthing process’ those globular clusters are very old indeed.

    Report Post »  
  • Gratitude
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:55am

    How can there be any doubt that there is a Creator.
    Albert Einstein:
    “In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views.”
    “I‘m not an atheist and I don’t think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangements of the books, but doesn’t know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God.”

    Report Post »  
  • Lumbar Spine
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:46am

    Gee…I wonder how old God’s universe is.

    Report Post »  
    • Cat
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 6:14am

      Infinity in all dimensions.

      Report Post » Cat  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:43am

    Do people know why we are on earth instead of living oh I don’t know, like on the moon for example? Because it sucks. And besides, God isn’t going to let people leave earth to poison other planets anyways.

    Report Post »  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on October 20, 2011 at 5:58am

      It’s liberal social policies that keep us Earth bound. Latest example: Obama ordering N.A.S.A. to make muslims feel good about their “contributions” to the world and regulating our astronauts to back seat passengers on Russian rockets.
      The only “poisoning” I see is the Liberal mentality poisoning the human mind.

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on October 20, 2011 at 12:42am

    God’s universe is Awesome!!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  

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