|
|
| M72, A Globular Cluster |
|
Messier 72 is one of the smaller and fainter globular
clusters in Messier's catalog. It is situated to the east of the summer
Milky Way, in the very western part of constellation Aquarius, close to the
the four star asterism,
M73.
M72 is a relatively remote globular cluster at 53,000 light years away, and 12,000 light years beyond our Galactic Center. Its fairly dim 9th or 10th magnitude is due to its great distance fromu us, but in fact it is one of the more intrinsically luminous globular clusters. M72 is not very concentrated, only M71 and M56 being less so. Its diameter is about 106 light years but appears to us to be only 6.6 arc minutes across. |
|
10"
F6.3 Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope, (1600mm F.L.) Canon
300D camera, placed at the scopes prime focus |