Which constellation contains the globular cluster Omega Centauri?

Centaurus is the constellation that contains the globular cluster Omega Centauri. The cluster is also designated NGC 5139 and lies in the southern constellation representing a centaur.

Omega Centauri is one of the most spectacular deep-sky objects visible from Earth. Although its name and Bayer-style designation make it sound like a star, it is a dense globular cluster containing several million stars. It lies roughly 17,000 light-years away and spans about 150 light-years, appearing as a fuzzy point to the unaided eye under dark skies.

The cluster was first recorded as a non-stellar object by English astronomer Edmond Halley in 1677. It is the largest and brightest known globular cluster associated with the Milky Way, and astronomers estimate that it contains around 10 million stars. Its unusual chemical and stellar diversity has led to the idea that Omega Centauri may be the surviving core of a dwarf galaxy disrupted by the Milky Way.

The common confusion is with the constellation’s most famous star system, Alpha Centauri, which is the nearest star system to the Solar System. Alpha Centauri and Omega Centauri are different objects, but both are located within Centaurus.