M15 | NGC 7078 | Globular Cluster | Pegasus | 35,000 Light Years Away
Messier 15 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Pegasus, and it stands out as one of the densest and most tightly packed of its kind. Discovered by Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746, this celestial object was later included in Charles Messier’s catalog in 1764. Situated around 33,600 light-years away from Earth, Messier 15 is positioned in the outer halo of the Milky Way, contributing to our understanding of the distribution of globular clusters throughout our galaxy.
With a diameter of about 175 light-years, Messier 15 contains a significant population of stars, numbering in the order of hundreds of thousands. The cluster is characterized by its dense core, which harbors a massive and mysterious object known as a central concentration of dark matter. This unique feature has made Messier 15 a subject of interest for astronomers studying the dynamics and composition of globular clusters, as well as the presence and influence of dark matter in these dense stellar communities.
The stars within Messier 15 showcase a diverse range of colors, indicative of variations in temperature and composition. The cluster’s estimated age is around 12 billion years, making it one of the older globular clusters in the Milky Way. Observations of Messier 15, conducted across different wavelengths, contribute to our understanding of the formation and evolution of globular clusters, shedding light on the intricate processes that have shaped these ancient stellar communities over cosmic time.