This cluster of stars has a low metal content, indicating it was formed early in the life of the Milky Way galaxy. Since most hot stars emit radiation in the ultraviolet and cooler stars emit in the lower ultraviolet range, the UIT instrument is especially suited for making images of these types of stars. Because this type of galaxy emits such a faint trace of ultraviolet radiation, very little is known about the formation of young stars there. UIT was also pointed at the Baades Window, an unusually clear line of sight towards the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Because of the relative lack of obscuring dust in this field of view, the UIT can image stars and star clusters in the central bulge of the galaxy, where stars are thought to be both ancient and rich in metals.
Reflection nebulae are colorful objects.
Starlight is scattered by dust grains, producing brilliant illumination in the cloud. HUT astronomers observed the nucleus and surrounding region of this nebula, searching for effects of the shock wave that was created when the nova exploded. These data will provide new information about the evolution of these stars and help astronomers learn more about the mass transfer of material between close binaries. As astronomers learn more about the polarization of interstellar medium, they can make allowances for this intervening matter when studying other celestial objects. During the next 12 hours, the Astro-2 ultraviolet telescopes will be pointed at the moon, two Seyfert galaxies, and single and multiple star systems to study electron scattering.