Messier Index/M107
Appearance
Messier 107 | |
---|---|
Observation data (w:J2000 epoch) | |
Class | X |
Right ascension | 16h 32m 31.91s[1] |
Declination | -13° 03′ 13.1″[1] |
Distance | 20.9 kly (6.4 kpc) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +8.85[1] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 13′.0 |
Physical characteristics | |
Mass | kg ( M) |
Radius | 39.5 [2] |
Other designations | NGC 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.