See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
Messier 12 or M 12 (also designated NGC 6218) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It was discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier on May 30, 1764, who described it as a "nebula without stars".[8] In dark conditions this cluster can be faintly seen with a pair of binoculars. Resolving the stellar components requires a telescope with an aperture of 8 in (20 cm) or greater.[9] In a 10 in (25 cm) scope, the granular core shows a diameter of 3′ (arcminutes) surrounded by a 10′ halo of stars.[8]
M12 is roughly 3°[9] northwest from the cluster M10 and 5.6° east southeast from star Lambda Ophiuchi. It is also located near the 6th magnitude 12 Ophiuchi.[10] The cluster is about 16,400 light-years (5,000 parsecs)[3] from Earth and has a spatial diameter of about 75 light-years. The brightest stars of M12 are of 12th magnitude. M10 and M12 are only a few thousand light-years away from each other and each cluster would appear at about magnitude 4.5 from the other.[10] With a Shapley-Sawyer rating of IX,[1] it is rather loosely packed for a globular and was once thought to be a tightly concentrated open cluster. Thirteen variable stars have been recorded in this cluster. M12 is approaching us at a velocity of 16 km/s.[11]
A study published in 2006 concluded that this cluster has an unusually low number of low-mass stars. The authors surmise that they were stripped from the cluster by passage through the relatively matter-rich plane of the Milky Way.[12]
Messier 12 core by HST
The Central Part of Messier 12. Credit: ESO
Map showing the location of M12
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^"Messier 12". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
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^"Messier 12: Gumball Globular | Messier Objects". www.messier-objects.com. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
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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...
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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...
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Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2006-12-21. "Messier 73". SEDS Messier pages. Retrieved 2010-02-28. Brown, A. G. A.; et al. (Gaia...
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galaxies Messier 32 and Messier 110. Galaxy collision with Messier 82 forms its patterned spiral disc: galaxy interactions between NGC 3077 and Messier 81;...
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media related to Messier 28. Globular Cluster M28 @ SEDS Messier pages Messier 28, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page Messier 28 on WikiSky: DSS2...
(August 21, 2007), "Messier 29", SEDS Messier pages, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), retrieved 2018-12-09. Kharchenko, N....
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