Amazing Cluster of Stars Photo: New Spectacular Image, Video Of 'Wishing Well' Cluster

Thanks to a powerful telescope in Chile, we can now see the intricately woven beauty of the Universe, in particular the Wishing Well Cluster of stars (scientifically called NGC 3532) some 1,300 light-years from our Sun. Since one light year is equivalent to about 6 trillion miles, as defined by the International Astronomical Union, NGC 3532 is about 7,800 mind-numbing trillion miles from where we are now.

But despite the extremely vast distance, we can now see the Wishing Well Cluster of stars up close inside the Carina constellation in our own Milky Way galaxy, thanks to the wonders of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

The video showing the hi-resolution view of this part of the observable universe was released last week. It shows a dazzling number and variety of stars in just one tiny part of the universe that covers an area of the sky that is nearly twice the size of the full moon, according to an ESO statement.

"This very bright star cluster is easily seen with the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere," the ESO said.

Astronomers say NGC 3532 is about 300 million years old and contains about 400 stars. Some stars are colored blue; some orange, and some red. Astronomers say the blue-white stars have moderate masses, while the orange and red ones are heavier, having already burned off their hydrogen. There are some red giants which cast orange glow. Faint stars can be seen within and outside the cluster since NGC 3532 is located in a crowded area of the Milky Way.

The cluster of stars was named Wishing Well because it looks like the bottom of a well filled with multi-colored coins. It was discovered by astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille while observing in South Africa in 1752.