Science

Dust-shrouded Milky Way star cluster may be nearly as old as the universe

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Briefings

A metal-poor globular cluster named VVV CL001, located behind thick interstellar dust in the Milky Way, has been estimated to be approximately 13.4 billion years old. This age places it among the oldest known star clusters in our galaxy, challenging previous assumptions about the universe's age. The discovery was published in Astronomy & Astrophysics after the methodology paper was posted to arXiv on October 20, 2026.

Key points

• VVV CL001 is a metal-poor globular cluster located behind thick clouds of interstellar dust in the Milky Way.
• The cluster's estimated age of 13.4 billion years makes it one of the oldest known star clusters in our galaxy.

Context

This finding challenges previous assumptions about the universe's age, as the cluster's age is comparable to the universe's age. The discovery was made possible by analyzing the cluster's metallicity and stellar evolution, despite the obscuring dust that prevented direct distance measurement.

Limitations

The cluster's distance and precise age were difficult to establish due to thick interstellar dust clouds. The paper was posted to arXiv on October 20, 2026, and accepted for publication by Astronomy & Astrophysics on November 2, 2026. The specific location of the cluster is not confirmed, and the exact distance remains uncertain.

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