Map of the Universe
Arches Cluster
Open star cluster · Densest star cluster known
About the Arches Cluster
The Arches Cluster is about 27,071 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 27,071 years ago.
It is 122 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
The map lists it as an open star cluster and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The densest known young star cluster, about 100 light-years from the Galactic centre.
Key numbers
| Distance | 27,071 light-years (8.30 kpc) |
|---|---|
| Distance from the Galactic centre | 122 light-years |
| Galactic coordinates | l = 0.12°, b = +0.02° |
| Size | about 3 light-years across |
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: Local Arm, a view about 12,000 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
The Arches Cluster is one of the densest star clusters in the Milky Way, about 100 light-years from its center in the constellation Sagittarius, 25,000 light-years from Earth. Its discovery was reported by Nagata et al. in 1995, and independently by Cotera et al. in 1996.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Arches Cluster, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- Sagittarius A* Black hole
- S2 Star
- Central Molecular Zone Galactic structure
- G1.9+0.3 Supernova remnant
- SGR 1806-20 Neutron star
- Terzan 5 Globular cluster