M54 (NGC 6715)
Also known as M54 · M 54 · NGC 6715
M54 (NGC 6715) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Sagittarius, about 88,060 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Globular star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Position (J2000) | 18h 55m 03s, −30° 28′ |
| Distance | 88,060 light-years (its light set off about 88,060 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 7.7 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 9.1′ × 9.1′ (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 | 1,183 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M54 (NGC 6715) is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 40° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 10°. 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)
- M18 (NGC 6613)
- M21 (NGC 6531)
- M23 (NGC 6494)
- Omega Nebula (M17)
- Sagittarius A*
- Sagittarius Cluster (M22)
- 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