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Sagittarius Cluster (M22)

Also known as M22 · M 22 · Sagittarius Cluster · NGC 6656

Sagittarius Cluster (M22) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Sagittarius, about 9,790 light-years from Earth.

Sagittarius Cluster (M22): a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeGlobular star cluster
ConstellationSagittarius
Position (J2000)18h 36m 24s, −23° 54′
Distance9,790 light-years (its light set off about 9,790 years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 5.1 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Size on the sky24′ × 24′ (the full Moon is about 31′)
FilterNo filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.)
Studied in1,477 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Sagittarius Cluster (M22) is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 46° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 16°. To see it you need the naked eye from a dark site.

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

Everything in Sagittarius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits