Credits: Wikisky

NGC288 is a globular cluster in the constellation Sculptor and can be observed through binoculars. It has an estimated age of 10.6 billion years and is 28,700 light years from the Earth.

Facts about NGC288 by Keith Turnecliff

The colours and brightness of the stars in the picture tell the story of how the stars have evolved in the cluster. The many fainter points of light are normal low-mass stars that are still fusing hydrogen in the same way as the Sun. The brighter stars fall into two classes: the yellow ones are red giant stars that are at a later phase in their careers and are now bigger, cooler and brighter. The bright blue stars are even more massive stars that have left the red giant phase and are being powered by helium fusion in their cores.

This star chart represents a view from Long Itchington for early November at 10pm.
Credits: Image courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus 8, researched and implemented by Keith Turnecliff.