Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Aquarius (Aqr)  ·  Contains:  M 2  ·  NGC 7089
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M2, autonm
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M2

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M2, autonm
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M2

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Description

Newcastle, UK

M2 is an *globular cluster of stars in the constellation of Aquarius.

M2 is one of the largest known globular clusters, larger telescopes will resolve individual stars, of which the brightest are of apparent magnitude 13.1.

M2 is about 55,000 light-years distant from Earth. At 175 light-years in diameter, it is one of the larger globular clusters known. The cluster is rich, compact, and significantly elliptical. It is 13 billion years old and one of the older globulars associated with the Milky Way galaxy.

M2 contains about 150,000 stars, including 21 known variable stars. Its brightest stars are red and yellow giant stars. M2 is part of the Gaia Sausage, the hypothesised remains of a merged dwarf galaxy.

*A globular cluster is a spherical collection of stars. Globular clusters are very tightly bound by gravity, giving them their spherical shapes and high concentrations of stars toward their centers. Their name is derived from Latin globulus—a small sphere. Globular clusters are occasionally known simply as globulars.

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M2, autonm