Messier 56 (NGC 6779): A Globular Cluster Screaming Toward Us

Messier 56 is a globular cluster in the constellation Lyra. It is best viewed in late summer through early autumn.

While M56 looks spectacular in astrophotos, it is dimmer globular. This grouping of stars is around 84 light-year in diameter. What’s more, it’s one of the older known globulars in our galaxy, and at the same time, it’s screaming toward the earth at around 345,000 miles per hour!

The cluster is best observed using a telescope, as its stars are too faint to be seen with the naked eye or even with binoculars. However, even small telescopes can reveal the cluster’s compact core and its many individual stars.

My Observations

M56 is a faint globular cluster in my 8-inch scope. I’m unable to make out individual stars other than one bright one near the bottom left. A full moon is rising tonight, so the sky is washing out more by the minute. Even with the competing moon, I’m glad I can still see a wisp of M56. I understand the Milky Way could have acquired M56 during a galaxy merger. I look forward to reexamining the cluster in the future on a moonless night.

Key Stats

Constellation	Lyra
Best Viewing	Late Aurumn
Visual Magnitude	+8.3
Absolute Magnitude	-6.6
Distance from Earth	31,000 ly
Diameter	78 ly
Apparent Size	8.8 arcmin
Milky Way Location	Orion Arm
My Viewing Grade	B

Historical Observations

January 23, 1779, observation by Charles Messier

“On the 19th [of January, 1779], when observing the Comet [C/1779 A1 Bode, Messier’s 17th comet], I saw at little distance of it, and on its parallel, a very faint nebula, which one cannot perceive without a refractor, the dusk then prevented me to determine its position: In the morning of the 23rd, I have compared it directly with the second star of Cygnus of the fifth magnitude.”

Sources and Notes

Messier 56 by Hubble Space Telescope. 3.6′ view. from NASA. This file is in the public domain because it was created by NASA and ESA. 

Charles Messier Observations: SEDS Messier Database