M62

M62

Messier 62 or M62 (also designated NGC 6266) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.5 and its angular diameter is 14.1 arc-minutes. M62 lies at an estimated distance of 22,500 light years. The Equinox 2000 coordinates are RA= 17h 01.2m, Dec= -30° 07´ which makes M62 best seen during the summer. The Messier Summer Star Chart shows the position of all Messier objects visible during that season.

The image above shows the uncropped view of M62 through the Takahashi E-180 Astrograph (North is up). A 3x enlargement of this image appears to the right.

This globular cluster was discovered by Messier in 1771. According to Recio-Blanco et al.(2005), the distance of M62 is 34,930 light years and its diameter is 110 light years. Its estimated mass is one million solar masses and it contains over 200 variable stars.

For more information, see the Messier Catalog as well as specific entries for M62 in Wikipedia and SEDS.

Messier's Description of M62

June 4, 1779
`Very beautiful nebula, discovered in Scorpio, it resembles a little Comet, the center is brilliant and surrounded by a faint glow. Its position [was] determined, by comparing it with the star Tau of Scorpius. M. Messier had already seen this nebula on June 7, 1771, without having determined the position where it is close to. Reviewed on on March 22, 1781.'

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