See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
Messier 10 or M10 (also designated NGC 6254) is a globular cluster of stars in the equatorial constellation of Ophiuchus. The object was discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier on May 29, 1764, who cataloged it as number 10 in his catalogue and described it as a "nebula without stars". In 1774, German astronomer Johann Elert Bode likewise called it a "nebulous patch without stars; very pale". Using larger instrumentation, German-born astronomer William Herschel was able to resolve the cluster into its individual members. He described it as a "beautiful cluster of extremely compressed stars". William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse thought he could distinguish a dark lane through part of the cluster. The first to estimate the distance to the cluster was Harlow Shapley, although his derivation of 33,000 light years was much further than the modern value.[9]
The tidal radius of M10 is 19.3 arcminutes, which is about two-thirds of the apparent diameter of the Moon. Viewed through medium-sized telescopes it appears about half that size (8–9 arcminutes), as its bright core is only 35 light-years across. It has a core radius of 48 arcseconds and a half-mass radius of 147 arcseconds (2.5 arcminutes).[2] M10 has a spatial diameter of 83 light-years and is estimated to be 14,300 light-years away from Earth.[3] It figures a degree west of 30 Ophiuchi, a center-of-constellation orange star.[10]
In terms of the abundance of elements other than hydrogen and helium, what astronomers term the metallicity, Messier 10 is "moderately metal–poor". The abundance of iron, measured as [Fe/H] equals –1.45 ± 0.04 dex, is only 3.5% of the abundance found at the surface of the Sun.[11] The cluster shows evidence of being enriched by the elements generated through the s-process in massive stars and Type II supernovae. It shows little evidence of enrichment by Type Ia supernovae.[12]
Because binary stars are, on average, more massive than normal stars, the binaries tend to migrate toward the center of the cluster. The fraction of binary stars in the core region is about 14%. This proportion decreases with increasing radius to about 1.5% in the outlying regions of the cluster.[2] Correspondingly, the core region contains a concentration of interaction-formed blue straggler stars, most of which formed 2–5 billion years ago.[13] The density of stars in the core region is about 3.8 solar masses per cubic parsec.[2] Four variable stars have been discovered in this cluster.
The cluster is currently located about 5 kiloparsecs (16 kly) from the Galactic Center.[12] It completes an orbit around the Milky Way galaxy about every 140 million years, during which it crosses the plane of the galactic disk every 53 million years. Its rosette orbit has an eccentricity of 0.21.[5]
^Cite error: The named reference hcob849_11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdeCite error: The named reference apj743_1_11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference aaa450_1_105 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Messier 10". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
^ abCite error: The named reference apj522 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
588..464F, doi:10.1086/374042, S2CID 16109989. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier10. Messier10, SEDS Messier pages Messier10, Galactic Globular...
The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in his Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas...
children to take up the sport." Messier was born in St. Albert, Alberta, the son of Mary-Jean (Dea) and Doug Messier. He was the second son and third...
Méchain and Charles Messier reidentified Bode's object, hence listed it in the Messier Catalogue. The galaxy is to be found approximately 10° northwest of Alpha...
of objects not to mistake for comets; Messier's list, including Messier 13, eventually became known as the Messier catalog. It is located at right ascension...
discovered on May 3, 1764, and was the first Messier object to be discovered by Charles Messier himself. Messier originally mistook the object for a nebula...
.163O. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20011730. S2CID 15545816. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier 73. SEDS: Messier Object 73 Messier 73, LRGB CCD...
Messier in 1781. It is the faintest object in the Messier catalog, with an apparent magnitude of 10.2. As a result of a bookkeeping error by Messier,...
This galaxy was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier in 1777. As an elliptical galaxy, Messier 49 has the physical form of a radio galaxy, but it...
Messier 84 or M84, also known as NGC 4374, is a giant elliptical or lenticular galaxy in the constellation Virgo. Charles Messier discovered the object...
Bibcode:1781cote.rept..227M. "Original Messier Catalog of 1781". Messier.seds.org. Retrieved 10 November 2007. "Charles Messier's personal copy of his 1781 "Catalog...
Messier 14 (also known as M14 or NGC 6402) is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764...
Messier 86 (also known as M86 or NGC 4406) is an elliptical or lenticular galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781...
Bibcode:2010AJ....139..476P, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/2/476, hdl:2152/34371, S2CID 120965440. "Messier 5". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original...
at the Cape of Good Hope. Charles Messier added it to his catalogue of nebulous objects (now known as the Messier Catalogue) in March 1781. It is one...
communicated his discovery to Charles Messier, who subsequently listed the object in his catalog. Both Messier and William Herschel described this galaxy...
doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424600, S2CID 14132566, A128 Media related to Messier 68 at Wikimedia Commons Globular Cluster M68 @ SEDS Messier pages Messier 68...
Messier 89 (M89 for short, also known as NGC 4552) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier on March 18...
Charles Messier in 1780. With M66 and NGC 3628, it forms the Leo Triplet, a small close group of galaxies. M65 was discovered by Charles Messier and included...
Messier 19 or M19 (also designated NGC 6273) is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764...
March 2015. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier 7. Messier 7, SEDS Messier pages Messier 7 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α,...
to Messier 12. Messier 12, SEDS Messier pages Messier 12, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page 'Stolen' stars article at Universe Today Messier 12...
Barnaba Oriani on May 5, 1779, six days before Charles Messier discovered the same galaxy. Messier had observed it on the same night as Oriani but had mistaken...
Messier 26, also known as NGC 6694, is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Scutum. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764...