NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a striking view of Messier 30 (M30), an ancient globular star cluster about 27,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Capricornus. Released on November 5, 2026, the image offers more than a spectacular view: it helps astronomers reconstruct the Milky Way’s early history.
What is Messier 30?
Messier 30 is a globular cluster, a tightly packed, roughly spherical collection of stars. Such clusters can contain tens of thousands to millions of stars and typically orbit in the extended halo around galaxies. Scientists estimate that globular clusters are between about 11.5 billion and 13.5 billion years old, making some of them almost as ancient as the universe itself.
Why astronomers study M30
Old star clusters preserve clues about the chemical composition of the early Milky Way. Intriguingly, M30 and several other globular clusters orbit in the opposite direction to our galaxy’s rotation. Researchers say this raises the possibility that some clusters formed elsewhere and were later captured by the Milky Way. This remains a scientific interpretation, not a confirmed origin story for M30.
Hubble has revisited M30 through multiple observing programs. The latest composite brings together ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared observations, allowing astronomers to examine stellar populations and their motion over time. Earlier Hubble studies also investigated unusual stars known as blue stragglers.
Where to see NASA’s original image
See the NASA image release and the NASA Science explanation. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Libralato, G. Piotto, A. Sarajedini.
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