NGC 6401

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NGC 6401

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has used its powerful optics to separate the globular cluster NGC 6401 into its constituent stars. What was once only visible as a ghostly mist in the eyepieces of astronomical instruments has been transformed into a stellar landscape.
Credit: HST/NASA/ESA
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Ophiuchus
Right ascension 17h 38m 36.93s
Declination −23° 54′ 31.5″
Distance 24.450
Apparent magnitude (V) 7.40
Apparent dimensions (V) 4.8'
Physical characteristics
Other designations ESO 520-SC011, GCL 73, H I-44, h 1982, h 3697, GC 4314
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

NGC 6401 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. William Herschel discovered this star cluster in 1784 with his 47 cm telescope, but mistakenly believed it to be a bright nebula. Later his son, John Herschel, was to make the same error because the technology of the day was insufficient to allow the individual stars to be resolved visually.

External links


 
NGC
  • NGC 6396
  • NGC 6397
  • NGC 6398
  • NGC 6399
  • NGC 6400
  • NGC 6401
  • NGC 6402
  • NGC 6403
  • NGC 6404
  • NGC 6405
  • NGC 6406

Coordinates: 17h 38m 36.93s, −23° 54′ 31.5″

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