The cluster NGC 6530 shines bright in one of the first color images taken by the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) near Sutherland, South Africa.

Astronomers released this image and others today to celebrate SALT’s first light after a five-year effort to build the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. The images are among the first taken by the telescope’s $600,000 SALTICAM digital camera.

A cluster of between 50 and 100 stars, NGC 6530 formed from clouds of gas inside the Lagoon Nebula – which can be seen in the background – about two million years ago. The hottest and most massive cluster in the region is up to 50 times as massive as the Sun, astronomers said.

SALT is part of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and is made up of about 91 hexagonal mirror segments that, when assembled, span 11 meters. South African President Thabo Mbeki will officially open the SALT instrument on Nov. 10, 2005.

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: SAAO/SALT.