Arches Cluster the Densest Milky Way Star Cluster Mouse Pad

The Arches Cluster is the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way, and is located about 100 light years away from the centre of our galaxy, in the constellation Sagittarius. Due to extremely heavy optical extinction by dust in this region, the cluster is obscured in the visual bands, and is observed in the X-ray, infrared, and radio bands. The radius of the cluster is approximately one light year. It contains about 150 young, very hot stars that are many times larger and more massive than our Sun. Such stars live for only a few million years before exhausting their hydrogen fuel, due to their extreme luminosity. The cluster also contains hot gas, produced in shocks by collisions among the massive, high-velocity stellar winds flowing outwards from the stars. Image reproduction rights can be found in the link near the bottom of this description. All Rights Reserved; without: prejudice, recourse or notice (U.C.C. 1-308) Image Reproduction Rights: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/star%20cluster/2005/05/image/a/warn/results/100/