Astrum Magister
New member
I am an amateur astronomer that gives star lectures at my local planetarium. Centaurus is visible in our Southern skies right now and I mention Omega Centauri in my lecture. I know that the Globular Cluster/Dwarf Galaxy has several million stars in it and that it has an intermediate mass black hole (40,000 solar masses). What I would like to do know is the stellar density of it compared to the density of stars in our region of the Orion Spur.
For example, I would like to be able to state that in our neck of the woods, the stellar density is x stars per cubic parsec versus y stars per cubic parsec in Omega Centauri.
For the sake of simplicity, an average based on the total number of stars, and on the average density across the the cluster (from outer to inner). I can address the variables separately in the lecture. I will be sure to mention the answerer in my lecture tomorrow.
Thanks for the answers. Dr. Bob, pretty impressive investigative skills. Thanks for the in-depth answer with a clear explanation.
For example, I would like to be able to state that in our neck of the woods, the stellar density is x stars per cubic parsec versus y stars per cubic parsec in Omega Centauri.
For the sake of simplicity, an average based on the total number of stars, and on the average density across the the cluster (from outer to inner). I can address the variables separately in the lecture. I will be sure to mention the answerer in my lecture tomorrow.
Thanks for the answers. Dr. Bob, pretty impressive investigative skills. Thanks for the in-depth answer with a clear explanation.