Many red supergiant monster stars lurk in a Milky Way cluster astronomers have discovered with the Gaia space telescope. The cluster, Barbá 2, could help understand why some stars become black holes.

This week's Hubble image is, appropriately enough, a star cluster called NGC 330 which glitters in shades of red, white, and blue.

In mid-February around 8 p.m., the majestic constellation Orion is due south, with his three-star belt and bright white foot (the star Rigel) and bright red-orange shoulder (the star Betelgeuse). L… ...