NGC 6356 is a globular cluster located a stunning 50,000 light-years away from Earth. This smaller, dense globular is best viewed on summer nights in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Category Archives: Globular Clusters
Messier 9 (NGC 6333): Globular Cluster Near the Heart of the Galaxy
Messier 9 (NGC 6333) lies lower in the southern skies on summer nights in the constellation Ophiuchus. M9 is a globular cluster near the center of a galaxy and enjoyable summer target.
NGC 6229: A Very Distant Globular Cluster
NGC 6229 is a dim globular cluster in the summer constellation of Hercules. It lies nearly 100,000 light year away in the outer halo of the Milky Way. Still, amateur astronomers using a modest telescope can still view it.
Messier 12 (NGC 6218): The Gumball Globular
Messier 12 is a globular cluster located closer to the center of the Milky Way than many other clusters. Observers can view M12 in late spring and summer. It’s bright and dense character make it a great target of summer in the constellation Ophiuchus. It’s also known as the Gumball.
Messier 14 (NGC 6402): Globular Cluster with an Elongated Glow
Messier 14 (NGC 6402) is a globular cluster in Ophiuchus best viewed in summer. It is slightly elongated in shape and looked fairly dim in my 8-inch SCT scope from the suburbs as my sketch shows. Still, it’s bright enough to see with binoculars from dark skies.
Messier 10 (NGC 6254): Rich Cluster Close to the Galaxy’s Heart
Messier 10 is a globular cluster located closer to the center of the Milky Way than many other clusters. Observers can view M10 in late spring and summer. It’s bright and dense character make it a great target of summer in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Messier 53 (NGC 5024): An Old, Bold Globular Cluster on the Outskirts of the Milky Way
Messier 53 is a globular cluster on the outskirts of our galaxy at nearly 60,000 light years above us. M53 is also unique as it has a more blue straggler stars than other globulars.
Messier 2 (NGC 7089): One of the Largest Globular Clusters in the Sky
While most backyard observers will see it as a smudge of light, Messier 2 contains a whopping 150,000 stars and is 175 light-years in diameter. It lies far below the center of our galaxy, too.
Messier 92 (NGC 6341): A Chandelier of Stars
On summer nights, when the constellation Hercules makes its way to the top of the sky, two of the greatest globular clusters tag along: Messier 13 and Messier 92. These ancient objects of the universe are must-see objects, and one can get a good view of them with a simple pair of binoculars. Many observersContinueContinue reading “Messier 92 (NGC 6341): A Chandelier of Stars”
Messier 15 (NGC 7078): A Heavy Duty Dense Globular Cluster in Pegasus
Messier 15 is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. It’s best viewed in Autumn. In August 1746, astronomers noticed the appearance of a comet called Cheseaux’s Comet. A month later on September 7, astronomer Jean-Dominique Maraldi was interested in the new arrival when he landed upon Messier 15 in the constellation Pegasus. Best viewedContinueContinue reading “Messier 15 (NGC 7078): A Heavy Duty Dense Globular Cluster in Pegasus”
The Garden Astronomer 