                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 November 26
    A starfield is shown with thin wisps of gray and red running through
    it. In the center is an usual ball -- which is a globular cluster of
      stars upon closer inspection. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                       Globular Cluster M15 Deep Field
                Image Credit & Copyright: Alvaro Ibanez Perez

   Explanation: Stars, like bees, swarm around the center of bright
   globular cluster M15. The central ball of over 100,000 stars is a relic
   from the early years of our Galaxy, and continues to orbit the Milky
   Way's center. M15, one of about 150 globular clusters remaining, is
   noted for being easily visible with only binoculars, having at its
   center one of the densest concentrations of stars known, and containing
   a high abundance of variable stars and pulsars. The featured image of
   M15 was taken by combining very long exposures -- 122 hours in all --
   and so brings up faint wisps of gas and dust in front of the giant ball
   of stars. M15 lies about 35,000 light years away toward the
   constellation of the Winged Horse (Pegasus).

                  Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

