The ancient globular cluster VVV CL001 might be almost as old as the universe. But its claim to fame rests on a single star, meaning more work needs to be done.

This image, a tiny part of the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea, shows the ancient cluster VVV-CL001, one of just 160 known globular clusters in the Milky Way. Stars belonging to the cluster can be found in the left bottom half of this image. The cluster was identified by the motions of member stars.

ESO / D. Minniti / VVV Team

An inconspicuous group of stars in the Milky Way’s inner bulge might be the oldest globular star cluster of our galaxy. Called VVV CL001, it’s about 13.4 billion years old according to a new study , give or take 400 million years.…