Messier Index/M23
| Messier 23 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (w:J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 17h 56.8m |
| Declination | −19° 01′ |
| Distance | 2.15 kly (659 Pc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.9 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 27.0′ |
| Other designations | NGC 6494 |
Messier 23 (also known as NGC 6494) is an w:open cluster in the w:constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier on w:June 20, w:1764.
M23 is at a distance of about 2,150 w:light-years away from w:Earth, its radius is around 15-20 w:light years. There are some 150 identified members in this cluster, the brightest being of magnitude 9.2. M23 can be found with a modestly sized w:telescope in the rich starfields of the Sagittarius w:Milky Way.