The young cluster RMC 136a

A new near-infrared image of the R136 cluster, obtained at high resolution with the MAD adaptive optics instrument at ESO’s Very Large Telescope, provides unique details of its stellar content. At birth, the three brightest stars each weighed more than 150 times the mass of the Sun. The most massive star, known as R136a1 and located at the centre of the image, has been found to have a current mass of 265 times that of the Sun. It also has the highest luminosity, close to ten million times greater than the Sun.

Credit:

ESO/P. Crowther/C.J. Evans

About the Image

Id:eso1030d
Type:Observation
Release date:21 July 2010, 12:00
Related releases:eso1030
Size:1288 x 1296 px

About the Object

Name:RMC 136a
Type:Local Universe : Star : Grouping : Cluster
Distance:22000 light years
Constellation:Dorado
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
112.0 KB
Screensize JPEG
67.2 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):5 38 42.18
Position (Dec):-69° 6' 0.41"
Field of view:0.08 x 0.08 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.4° left of vertical