Mercer 3

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Mercer 3
Mercer 3 2MASS.png
2MASS image of Mercer 3
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Scutum
Right ascension 18h 18m 30s [1]
Declination −16° 58 36 [1]
Distance 13–26 kly (4–8 kpc [1] )
Apparent magnitude (V)not visible
Apparent dimensions (V)39″ (half-light diameter) [1]
Physical characteristics
Mass2–3 × 105  M
Radius2–5 ly
Estimated age 12 Gyr [1]
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

Mercer 3, also known as GLIMPSE-C02, is a heavily obscured globular cluster embedded in the disk of the Milky Way galaxy. [1] It was discovered in 2008 in the data obtained by 2MASS and GLIMPSE infrared surveys, and independently characterized by two groups. [1] [2] The cluster is located in the Scutum constellation. It had avoided detection for such a long time due to the extremely strong foreground extinction in its direction reaching 24 magnitudes in the visible light. Mercer 3 is probably situated at the distance from 4 to 8  kpc from the Sun and has a half-light radius of 0.7–1.5 pc. [1]

Mercer 3 is an old globular cluster having the age of about 12 billion years. The mass of cluster is estimated at 2–3 hundred thousand solar masses. [1] It is among the most metal-rich galactic globular clusters known. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Strader, J.; Kobulnicky, H. A. (2008). "A Probable New Globular Cluster in the Galactic Disk". The Astronomical Journal. 136 (5): 2102. arXiv: 0808.1719 . Bibcode:2008AJ....136.2102S. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/136/5/2102. S2CID   12924612.
  2. 1 2 Kurtev, R.; Ivanov, V. D.; Borissova, J.; Ortolani, S. (2008). "Obscured clusters. II. GLIMPSE-C02 – A new metal rich globular cluster in the Milky Way". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 489 (2): 583–587. arXiv: 0808.1565 . doi: 10.1051/0004-6361:200809425 . S2CID   14312617.