NGC 602

NGC 602 is a young, bright open cluster located within the wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a dwarf galaxy orbiting our own Milky Way. The cluster itself is embedded within a larger nebula, N90, which is a region of active star formation.

The intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by the massive, hot stars within NGC 602 is sculpting the surrounding dust and gas, creating a dramatic pillar-like structure. This ionizing radiation is also responsible for the emission of light from the nebula, giving it a vibrant appearance.

NGC 602 is important for studying star formation in an environment with lower metallicity (abundance of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium) than is typical in the Milky Way. The lower metallicity conditions are thought to be similar to those in the early universe, making NGC 602 and its surrounding region a valuable laboratory for understanding how stars formed in those early epochs. The age of the cluster is estimated to be only a few million years, making it a relatively young stellar grouping. Observations have revealed a population of pre-main sequence stars within the cluster, providing insights into the earliest stages of stellar evolution.