Globular Cluster in Aquarius
Star-hop chart
Messier 72 is a relatively dim cluster just
about 3 degrees away from the Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) in the western part
of Aquarius. At about magnitude
9.3, it is not difficult to see in even small telescopes, but resolving its 15th magnitude stars requires a fairly large aperture. Through my 18-inch telescope at 175x, some of its stars can be resolved. The cluster is about 55,000 light years
away, which is about half the diameter of our Milky Way galaxy.
It is therefore not surprising that it is not as impressive as some of the closer globular clusters in our galaxy.
| Magnitude | 9.3 |
| Apparent Size | 7' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 55,000 |
| Right Ascension | 20:53.3 |
| Declination | -12 32 |
| Field of View | 25' x 17' |
Image details: 43 exposures of 120 seconds each, taken with a ZWO ASI2600MC Pro imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.6.
October 2026