Stellar Sparklers and the Unseen Universe The release of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 6426, a 13 billion year old globular cluster in the Milky Way, has been touted as a patriotic celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary.
However, beneath its festive red, white, and blue hue lies a story that speaks to the fundamental nature of our universe: how exploding stars helped transform it into a place capable of supporting life.
Globular clusters like NGC 6426 are often overlooked in favor of more spectacular celestial events or distant galaxies.