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[patrickm]

Milky Way and Scorpio over Harbor Island, SC

I also managed to see Omega Centauri glowing through the 10 degree muck with binocs after sunset one night, a first for me in North America.

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[Paulie pchris00]

Not that I've ever seen Omega Centauri, but I'm not sold that it's a globular cluster. I heard at a talk on the southern skies, I believe at Valparaiso University by Dr. Todd Hillwig, that although it's commonly labeled as a glob, it may in fact be what's left of a dwarf galaxy.

All globular clusters are impressive, but Omega Centauri is in a class by itself. Having a mass of 5 million suns, Omega Centauri is 10 times more massive than a typical globular cluster. Omega Centauri has a diameter of 230 light-years. It’s a stellar city sparkling with perhaps 10 million stars. Globular clusters generally have stars of similar age and composition. However, studies of Omega Centauri reveal that this cluster has different stellar populations that formed at varying periods of time. It may be that Omega Centauri is a remnant of a small galaxy that merged with the Milky Way.

Read more here: earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae-galaxies/omega-centauri-milky-ways-prize-star-cluster

[patrickm]

I'm not convinced there's really a difference. Have read somewhere that globs have similar properties, too.

Omega Centauri is one of the few DSO's that really looks like the photos you see and show people.

[patrickm]

I love Ald. Pawar!

storify.com/pmonaghan/conversation-with-tweetsbyseema-pkmonaghan-and-ald


Seema (@tweetsbyseema)
8/16/14, 0:24
Loving the new street lamps on Lawrence Ave. Goodbye ugly tall orange lights. Thanks @alderman_Pawar @ameyapawar47 pic.twitter.com/erQnBswYTM

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Patrick Monaghan (@pkmonaghan)
8/16/14, 13:49
@tweetsbyseema @alderman_Pawar @ameyapawar47 Pretty but wish they were shielded/downward facing instead of leaking.
darksky.org/outdoorlightin…

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Alderman Ameya Pawar (@alderman_Pawar)
8/16/14, 13:51
. @pkmonaghan @tweetsbyseema Evanston has those. But I don't think Chicago is ready for those yet b/c being able to see sky/stars=unsafe.

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Patrick Monaghan (@pkmonaghan)
8/16/14, 13:58

.@alderman_Pawar @tweetsbyseema No place in US is worse than Chicago. Light’s OK, just point it where it’s needed! pic.twitter.com/yfwHjc1BoN

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Alderman Ameya Pawar (@alderman_Pawar)
8/16/14, 14:00

. @pkmonaghan @tweetsbyseema I wish Chicago would take a cue from Sedona, AZ. One day...

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Patrick Monaghan (@pkmonaghan)
8/16/14, 14:04

@alderman_Pawar Gonna bug you and @debmell to come out next time I set up a scope in Horner Park

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Alderman Ameya Pawar (@alderman_Pawar)
8/16/14, 14:05

@pkmonaghan @debmell I'm in!

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