M80 (NGC 6093)
Also known as M80 · M 80 · NGC 6093
M80 (NGC 6093) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Scorpius, about 32,620 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Globular star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Scorpius |
| Position (J2000) | 16h 17m 02s, −22° 58′ |
| Distance | 32,620 light-years (its light set off about 32,620 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 7.3 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 8.9′ × 8.9′ (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 | 792 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
M80 (NGC 6093) is highest in the sky at midnight in May. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 47° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 17°. 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 Scorpius
- Butterfly Cluster (M6)
- Butterfly Nebula
- Cat's Paw Nebula
- Fried Egg Nebula
- M4 (NGC 6121)
- Prawn Nebula
- Ptolemy Cluster (M7)
- War and Peace Nebula
Everything in Scorpius · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits