Messier Index/M9
M9 | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Class | VIII |
Constellation | Ophiuchus |
Right ascension | 17h 19m 11.78s[1] |
Declination | -18° 30′ 58.5″[1] |
Distance | 25.8 kly (7.9 kpc) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +8.42[1] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 12′.0 |
Physical characteristics | |
Mass | kg ( M) |
Radius | 45 ly |
Other designations | NGC 6333[1] |
Messier 9 or M9 (also designated NGC 6333) is a w:globular cluster in the w:constellation of w:Ophiuchus. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier in w:1764.
M9 is one of the nearer globular clusters to the center of the w:Milky Way Galaxy with a distance of around 5,500 w:light-years. Its distance from w:Earth is 25,800 light-years.
The total w:luminosity of this cluster is around 120,000 times that of the w:Sun, the w:absolute magnitude being -8.04. The brightest individual w:stars in M9 are of w:apparent magnitude 13.5, making them visible in moderately sized w:telescopes. There have been 13 w:variable stars found in M9.
Nearby, at about 80' to the northeast of M9 is the dimmer globular cluster w:NGC 6356, while at about 80' to the southeast is the globular w:NGC 6342.
External links
References
- ↑ a b c d "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 6333. Retrieved 2006-11-15.