Messier 107

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Messier 107

Messier 107, from 2MASS
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Class X
Right ascension 16h 32m 31.91s[1]
Declination -13° 03′ 13.1″[1]
Distance 20.9 kly (6.4 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V) +8.85[1]
Apparent dimensions (V) 13′.0
Physical characteristics
Mass kg ( M{\odot})
Radius 39.5 [2]
Other designations NGC 6171, GCl 44[1]
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
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Globular Cluster M107 (also known as Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is a very loose globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in April 1782 and independently by William Herschel in 1793. It wasn't until 1947 that Helen Sawyer Hogg added it, and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects.

M107 is close to the galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 light-years from Earth. There are 25 known variable stars in this cluster.

[edit] See also

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d SIMBAD Astronomical Database. Results for NGC 6171. Retrieved on 2006-11-16.
  2. ^ distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 ) = 39.5 ly. radius
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