Light element discontinuities in the globular cluster NGC 6402 (M14)

NGC 6402 is one of the most massive globular clusters in the Galaxy but until recently little was known about its detailed chemical composition. Interestingly, recent results have shown that NGC 6402 exhibits a paucity of intermediate composition stars that may be indicative of an early termination of star formation. As a result, NGC 6402 may be important for understanding cluster formation and the order in which various stellar populations are born.