Millions of Stars in Omega Centauri

Pictured above is the largest ball of stars in our Galaxy . About 10 million stars orbit the center of this globular cluster - named Omega Centauri - as this giant globular cluster orbits our Galactic center . Recent evidence indicates that Omega Centauri is by far the most massive of the about 150 known globular clusters in the Milky Way. Omega Centauri, cataloged as NGC 5139 , spans about 150 light years across, lies about 15,000 light years away, and can be seen without visual aid toward the constellation of Centaurus . The stars in globular clusters are generally older, redder and less massive than our Sun . Studying globular clusters tells us not only about the history of our Galaxy but also limits the age of the universe .