M79 (NGC 1904)
Also known as M79 · M 79 · NGC 1904
M79 (NGC 1904) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Lepus, about 42,400 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Globular star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 24m 10s, −24° 31′ |
| Distance | 42,400 light-years (its light set off about 42,400 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 8.16 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 8.7′ × 8.7′ (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 | 898 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M79 (NGC 1904) is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 45° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 15°. 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 Lepus
Everything in Lepus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits