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.
Tag Archives: Ophiuchus
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.
RS Ophiuchi: Star Erupts in the Summer Sky
Recurrent novae are rare. Luckily, we have RS Ophiuchi erupting every 20 years or so to remind us how special these stars are in the universe. In August 2021, the star erupted for the world, and me, to see.
70 Ophiuchi: A Colorful Double Star Close to Home
This is a must-see binary in the heat of summer. Not sure why, but as I enjoy viewing this pair, I think of multicolor ice popsicles.
Barnard’s Star: Chasing the Red Dwarf Through Ophiuchus
Barnard’s Star, located under six light-years away in Ophiuchus, is a red dwarf with a surface temperature of 3,200 K and extraordinary proper motion, moving over 10 arcseconds per year. Discovered to host four exoplanets, it fascinates astronomers as a rare opportunity to observe significant stellar movement within a human lifetime. Article shows a photograph of it in 2019 amongst the stars. The star is also known as Runaway Star, HIP 87937, LFT 1385, Proxima Ophiuchi, V2500 Ophiuchi.
The Garden Astronomer 