Globular Star Cluster M-56 (NGC 6779)

Description of M-56 in The Deep Sky Field Guide to Uranometria 2000 (c) Willmann-Bell, Inc.:

Brightest stars = magnitude 13.0;
horizontal branch stars magnitude = 16.2;
concentration: 10 (low =1 high = 12).

Charles Messier discovered globular star cluster M-56 on January 19th, 1779 on the same night as he discovered one of his comets. He was unable to resolve it, and thus listed it as a "nebula without stars" in his famous catalog. William Hershel resolved it into a myriad of dim stars in 1784.

Current estimates place M-56 at a distance of 45,600 light years, with a diameter of 60 light years.

Although a 6 inch telescope will begin to resolve the outer parts of this cluster, it takes a 10 inch to completely resolve it.


Click here for information on Globular Star Cluster distances and ages!!

• M-56, NGC 6779
• Magnitude: 8.3
• Constellation: Lyra
• RA: 19h 16m 36.0s
• Dec: +30d 11' 00" Epoch 2000
• Size (mins) 7.1
• Classification: Globular Cluster
  

George Normandin, KAS

September 30th, 2009