M12 (NGC 6218)
Also known as M12 · M 12 · NGC 6218
M12 (NGC 6218) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus, about 16,310 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Globular star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Position (J2000) | 16h 47m 14s, −1° 56′ |
| Distance | 16,310 light-years (its light set off about 16,310 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.07 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 14.5′ × 14.5′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 746 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M12 (NGC 6218) is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 68° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 38°. To see it you need binoculars.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Ophiuchus
- Kepler's Supernova
- M9 (NGC 6333)
- M10 (NGC 6254)
- M14 (NGC 6402)
- M19 (NGC 6273)
- M62 (NGC 6266)
- M107 (NGC 6171)
- Rho Ophiuchi Cloud
Everything in Ophiuchus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits