Hubble telescope beams back stunning picture of M19 star cluster

The Hubble Space Telescope has beamed back a stunning picture of Messier 19 (M19), a star cluster that lies about 28,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ophiuchus.

This latest Hubble image of M19 includes Hubble observations taken in ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths of light. The Hubble proposal associated with this image sought to investigate the cluster’s formation and the ratios of different populations of stars within it.

M19 was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764 and is one of the oldest known globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. It lies only 6,500 light-years away from the centre of our Milky Way galaxy and it can be easily spotted through binoculars during July.

To close out Hubble's 2023 #MessierMarathon, here's a new image of M19!M19 is a star cluster with a slightly elongated shape. It's relatively close to the heart of our Milky Way, so the gravity from the galactic center could be stretching it: https://t.co/9PeZFuz5Hd pic.twitter.com/gFatM3A2v4

— Hubble (@NASAHubble) March 21, 2023

The Hubble Space Telescope is a powerful astronomical instrument that has been observing the universe for more than three decades. The premium observatory has provided us with some of the most iconic images of the universe and has made many groundbreaking discoveries.

Orbiting at an altitude of about 535 kilometres above Earth, allowing it to capture incredibly sharp images of distant celestial objects with unprecedented clarity. The telescope has been upgraded several times over the years, with new science instruments and technologies being added to enhance its capabilities.

Late last year, NASA and SpaceX announced that they are studying the possibilities of reboosting the Hubble telescope. The agency said that it has no plans to conduct or fund a dedicated servicing mission for the telescope; the study will help it understand the commercial possibilities.