Hidden star cluster discovered in Milky Way's crowded disk defies easy classification
Astronomers have discovered a new stellar cluster, named Garro 04, hidden within the dense dust of the Milky Way's disk. The discovery was made using infrared spectroscopy and imaging from the VVVX survey, which allows researchers to peer through galactic dust.
Why it matters
Identifying hidden star clusters helps scientists better understand the chemical history, evolution, and past mergers of the Milky Way galaxy.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source VVVX color-composite image of the Garro 04 field. Credit: Elisa R. Garro et al., arXiv (2026). DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2609.24811 Astronomers have discovered a stellar cluster hidden in the crowded disk of the Milky Way. The object, named Garro 04, was first identified as an unusual collection of stars in observations from the VVVX survey and was later confirmed using infrared spectroscopy. A paper outlining the properties of this seemingly mysterious stellar system was posted to the arXiv preprint server on September 21.
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