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M55 · Messier 55

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Messier 55
Credit NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) · Public domain
Chinese nameM55 球状星团
TypeGlobular cluster
ConstellationSgr
RA19h40m
Dec−31°
Apparent magnitude6.3ᵐ
HemisphereSouthern
Best seasonSummer
DifficultyModerate
Focal length长焦 800–1500mm

About

About 17,000 light-years away, M55 is a large, loose globular cluster in Sagittarius with a relatively diffuse core, so even small telescopes resolve many of its members. Near the southern Milky Way it appears as an evenly spread field of golden stars with a large apparent size. A long-focal wide field captures its sprawling star sea, a rewarding summer southern globular target.