M 68 (also known as Messier 68 or NGC 4590 ) is a globular star cluster in the constellation Hydra .
| Ball cluster M 68 | |
|---|---|
| Star cluster | |
 Hubble Telescope / STScI / WikiSky | |
| Research history | |
| Discoverer | Charles Messier |
| opening date | 1780 |
| Designations | NGC 4590 , M 68 |
| Observational data ( Age J2000.0 ) | |
| Type of | Globular cluster |
| Right ascension | |
| Declination | |
| Distance | 30,000 St. years (10 120 pc ) |
| Visible magnitude (V) | +7.8 |
| Visible Dimensions (V) | 12,0 ′ |
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Radius | |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | |
Content
Discovery History
The cluster was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780 .
Interesting features
M 68 is located at a distance of 33,000 light years from Earth .
Observations
The globular cluster M 68, unusual in its position (in the opposite direction from the center of the Galaxy), is not easy for observations in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Say, at the latitude of St. Petersburg, it rises no higher than 10 degrees above the horizon. The best time to observe is the beginning of spring. M 68 is quite simply located in good binoculars or a telescope seeker - on the extension to the south of the δ-β Crow segment (about half its length) at half a degree northeast of the relatively bright (5.4m) star B 230.
Through binoculars or a small amateur telescope, M 68 is visible as a rounded diffuse spot surrounded by foreground stars. For example, at the northwestern edge of the halo of the cluster lies the MIRIDA of Hydra with a brightness drop from 10.2m to 17.4m. With a telescope with an aperture of 150-200 mm, the halo of the cluster is confidently resolved into stars. With a telescope aperture of 250-300 mm and an observation site closer to the equator, this not very dense cluster is allowed to the very center.
Neighbors in the Sky from Messier Catalog
- M 104 - (north on the border of Virgo and Raven) the famous galaxy Sombrero;
- M 83 - (to the east and even south) the bright and interesting galaxy South Pinwheel;
Sequence of Observation at the Messier Marathon
... M 49 → M 61 → M 68 → M 83 → M 13 ...
Images
Gal. Longitude 299.6258 °
Gal. + 36.0508 °
Distance 33 600 St. years old
See also
- List of Messier objects
- New General Catalog
Notes
- ↑ Frommert H. Messier 68
- ↑ Harris W. E. A catalog of parameters for globular clusters in the Milky Way // Astron. J. / J. G. III - IOP Publishing , 1996. - Vol. 112, Iss. 4. - P. 1487-1488. - ISSN 0004-6256 ; 1538-3881 - doi: 10.1086 / 118116