M18 (NGC 6613)
Also known as M18 · M 18 · NGC 6613
M18 (NGC 6613) is an open star cluster in the constellation Sagittarius, about 4,250 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Open star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Position (J2000) | 18h 19m 58s, −17° 06′ |
| Distance | 4,250 light-years (its light set off about 4,250 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 6.9 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 5′ × 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 | 93 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M18 (NGC 6613) is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 53° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 23°. 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 Sagittarius
- Lagoon Nebula (M8)
- M21 (NGC 6531)
- M23 (NGC 6494)
- Omega Nebula (M17)
- Sagittarius A*
- Sagittarius Cluster (M22)
- Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24)
- Trifid Nebula (M20)
Everything in Sagittarius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits