M56 (NGC 6779)
Also known as M56 · M 56 · NGC 6779
M56 (NGC 6779) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Lyra, about 32,620 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Globular star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Position (J2000) | 19h 16m 35s, +30° 11′ |
| Distance | 32,620 light-years (its light set off about 32,620 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.4 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 7.1′ × 7.1′ (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 | 461 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M56 (NGC 6779) is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 80° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 70°. 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 Lyra
Everything in Lyra · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits