Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Ophiuchus (Oph)  ·  Contains:  M 107  ·  NGC 6171
Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue, Steven Hanaway
Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue
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Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue

Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue, Steven Hanaway
Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue
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Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue

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Good morning everyone! Today's image is of a globular star cluster catalogued as Messier 107. This globular star cluster can be found in the constellation Ophiuchus some 20,900 light years from Earth. This particular globular is the last in Charles Messier's Catalogue. The cluster is very loose compared to the average globular cluster, and contains 25 variable stars. Variable stars are interesting, because over a time period as short as a few hours to a few months a star can expand and contract, or become hotter and cooler, and as a result change in brightness, normally following a pattern that we can track. Certain variable stars always shine with the same brightness, so their brightness is always the same for the same part of their variable cycle. These stars are useful to astronomers, because we can use them to measure the distance to far away objects because the only thing that causes them to become dimmer is distance and gas and dust blocking the view. I hope you like today's image, and information, be sure to check back tomorrow for a new one! Clear Skies!

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Messier 107, The Last Globular Cluster In Messier's Catalogue, Steven Hanaway