Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Ophiuchus (Oph)  ·  Contains:  HD151392  ·  HD151526  ·  HD151630  ·  M 12  ·  NGC 6218
Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218), Tom Wildoner
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Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218)

Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218), Tom Wildoner
Powered byPixInsight

Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218)

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Description

Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218 in the New General Catalog) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is also referred to as the “Gumball Globular”. It was discovered in 1764 by the French astronomer Charles Messier who described it as a “nebula without stars”. M12 is approximately 15,700 light-years distant. You will definitely need binoculars or a small telescope to see this cluster. This cluster contains about 200,000 stars, the brightest of them are about 12th magnitude.

Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Class: IX
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Right ascension: 16h 47m 14.18s
Declination: –01° 56′ 54.7″
Distance: 16.44 ± 0.16 kly
Apparent magnitude (V): 6.7
Apparent dimensions (V): 16′.0

Tech Specs: Sky-Watcher Esprit 120ED Telescope, ZWO ASI2600MC camera running at 0F, 90x60 seconds guided exposures, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro pier mounted, ZWO EAF and ASIAir Pro, processed in DSS and PixInsight. Image Date: May 11, 2023. Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA, USA (Bortle Class 4).

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Globular Cluster Messier 12 (M12 or NGC 6218), Tom Wildoner

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Messier Objects