HUBBLE ATLAS

Galaxies

Zoom in on galaxy ESO 306-17

March 4, 2010 · ESA/Hubble

Original on ESA/Hubble ↗

When zooming in closely on ESO 306-17, one can see faint clusters of stars through the bright shine of the galaxy's large halo. These are globular clusters — tightly bound groups of stars that can often fend off cannibalism from larger, "bully" galaxies. Studying these surrounding clusters will prove helpful to astronomers in their pursuit to put the pieces of ESO 306-17's history together.