Messier 70 (also known as M70 or NGC 6681) is a w:globular cluster in the w:constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier in w:1780.

Messier 70
M70 from w:Hubble Space Telescope; 3.32′ view
Credit: w:NASA/w:STScI/w:WikiSky
Observation data (w:J2000 epoch)
ClassV
ConstellationSagittarius
Right ascension18h 43m 12.64s[1]
Declination-32° 17′ 30.8″[1]
Distance29.3 kly[citation needed] (9 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)+9.06[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)8′.0
Physical characteristics
Masskg ( M)
Radius34 ly[2]
Other designationsM70, NGC 6681, GCl 101[1]

M70 is at a distance of about 29,300 w:light years away from w:Earth and close to the w:Galactic Center. It is roughly the same size and w:luminosity as its neighbour in space, w:Globular Cluster M69. Only 2 w:variable stars are known within this cluster.

External links

References

  1. a b c d "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 6681. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
  2. distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 ) = 34 ly. radius