HUBBLE-SPACE-TELESCOPE DISCOVERY OF CANDIDATE YOUNG GLOBULAR-CLUSTERS IN THE MERGER REMNANT NGC-7252

New, high-resolution images of the central region of NGC 7252 obtained with the Planetary Camera of the Hubble Space Telescope are presented. NGC 7252 (sometimes referred to as the ''Atoms-for-Peace'' Galaxy) is a prototypical example of a remnant of two merged disk galaxies. Our most striking result is the discovery of a population of about 40 blue pointlike objects in this galaxy. The mean absolute magnitude of these objects is M(V) = -13 mag; the mean color is V-I=0.7 mag; and the mean effective radius is 10 pc (for H-1 = 50 km s-1 Mpc-1). The luminosities, colors, projected spatial distribution, and sizes are all compatible with the hypothesis that these objects formed within the last 1 Gyr following the collision of two spiral galaxies, and that they are young globular clusters. It therefore appears that the number of globular clusters may increase during the merger of gas-rich galaxies. This weakens van den Bergh's objection against ellipticals being formed through disk mergers, based mainly on the fact that disk galaxies have fewer globular clusters per unit luminosity than ellipticals do. Other findings are: (1) NGC 7252 shows a single, semistellar nucleus; (2) relatively bright spiral structure is seen within 3''.5 (1.6 kpc) of the center, presumably formed through the continued infall of gas into a disk around the center of the galaxy; (3) dust lanes and very weak spiral structure are seen out to about 9'' (4.2 kpc), primarily on the NE side; and (4) a ripple is found on the west side, 5''.0 from the center.