Three new clusters

found in the Milky Way

Three new clusters

Using ESA Gaia satellite data, Brazilian astronomers found three new open clusters in the Milky Way. They are designated as UFMG 1, UFMG 2 and UFMG 3. They are located on the Sagittarius arm.

Discovered clusters emerged from a single giant molecular cloud. These are groups of stars that are in a weak gravitational relationship. In the Milky Way, more than 1000 such formations have already been found, and researchers continue to search in order to improve the understanding of the formation and evolution of our galaxy.

Three new clusters

DSS2-image (2.5x2.5 square degrees) of the sky area in which the new clusters and NGC 5999 are located. The circles define the maximum radius of the clusters

New finds were near the cluster of the average age of NGC 5999. Analyzing the second release of Gaia data, scientists noticed the presence of other clusters that were not previously recorded in official observations. They are 4900 light-years distant from Earth and contain several hundred stars with almost solar metallicity. Their age ranges from 0.1 to 1.4 billion years. The limit radii of UFMG 1, UFMG 2 and UFMG 3 are 20.5, 15.6 and 19.5 light years. In NGC 5999, the maximum radius is 15 light years. UFMG 1 and UFMG 2 are endowed with a more dense core, while UFMG 3 has a narrow central structure. It was also noted that UFMG 3 is in the sky next to two known clusters: Majaess 166 and Teutsch 81.

Scientists report that in the clusters found there are clearly defined main sequences and at least two giants. But there is a suspicion that stars with slow rotation (blue) and fast (red) are also present in UFMG 2.

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