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Messier Index/M107

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Messier 107
M107 from w:Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view
Credit: w:NASA/w:STScI/w:WikiSky
Observation data (w:J2000 epoch)
ClassX
Right ascension16h 32m 31.91s[1]
Declination-13° 03′ 13.1″[1]
Distance20.9 kly (6.4 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)+8.85[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)13′.0
Physical characteristics
Masskg ( M)
Radius39.5 [2]
Other designationsNGC 6171, GCl 44[1]

Globular Cluster M107 (also known as w:Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is a very loose w:globular cluster in the w:constellation w:Ophiuchus. It was discovered by w:Pierre Méchain in April w:1782 and independently by w:William Herschel in w:1793. It wasn't until w:1947 that w:Helen Sawyer Hogg added it and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects.

M107 is close to the w:galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 w:light-years from w:Earth. There are 25 known w:variable stars in this cluster.

References

  1. a b c d "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 6171. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
  2. distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 ) = 39.5 ly. radius