Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  M 3  ·  NGC 5272
M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici, maragus
M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici
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M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici

M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici, maragus
M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici
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M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici

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Description

M3 is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation of Canes Venatici in proximity of Arcturus. It is the first object discovered by Messier himself in 1764.

It contains around 500000 stars , mostly old red. It is also home to an unusually large number of variable stars (274).

M3 contains also a relatively high number of blue stragglers. These stars are believed to form as a result of stellar interactions.

M3 is a metal-rich globular cluster, one with a high abundance of elements other than hydrogen and helium compared to other globular cluster.

It has a luminosity about 300 000 times that of the sun

Apparent Magnitude : 6.2

Radius : 90 ly

Age : 11.4 billion year

Distance to Earth : 33920 ly

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M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici, maragus