See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
Messier 62 or M62, also known as NGC 6266 or the Flickering Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of stars in the south[a] of the equatorial constellation of Ophiuchus. It was discovered in 1771 by Charles Messier,[b] then added to his catalogue eight years later.[11]
M62 is about 21.5 kly[3] from Earth and 5.5 kly from the Galactic Center.[2] It is among the ten most massive and luminous globular clusters in the Milky Way, showing an integrated absolute magnitude of −9.18.[5] It has an estimated mass of 1.22×106M☉[6] and a mass-to-light ratio of 2.05±0.04 in the core visible light band, the V band.[12] It has a projected ellipticity of 0.01, meaning it is essentially spherical.[13] The density profile of its member stars suggests it has not yet undergone core collapse.[14] It has a core radius of 1.3 ly (0.39 pc), a half-mass radius of 9.6 ly (2.95 pc), and a half-light radius of 6.0 ly (1.83 pc). The stellar density at the core is 5.13 M☉ per cubic parsec.[15] It has a tidal radius of 59 ly (18.0 pc).[8]
The cluster shows at least two distinct populations of stars, which most likely represent two separate episodes of star formation. Of the main sequence stars in the cluster, 79%±1% are from the first generation and 21%±1% from the second. The second is polluted by materials released by the first. In particular, abundances of helium, carbon, magnesium, aluminium, and sodium differ between these two.[5]
Indications are this is an Oosterhoff type I, or "metal-rich" system. A 2010 study identified 245 variable stars in the cluster's field, of which 209 are RR Lyrae variables, four are Type II Cepheids, 25 are long period variables, and one is an eclipsing binary. The cluster may prove to be the galaxy's richest in terms of RR Lyrae variables.[16] It has ten binary millisecond pulsars, including one (M62B) that is displaying eclipsing behavior from gas streaming off its companion,[17] and one (M62H) with a planetary-mass companion about three times the mass of Jupiter.[18] There are multiple X-ray sources, including 50 within the half-mass radius.[14] 47 blue straggler candidates have been identified, formed from the merger of two stars in a binary system, and these are preferentially concentrated near the core region.[14]
It is hypothesized that this cluster may be host to an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH) – it is considered well-suited for searching for such an object. A brief study, before 2013, of the proper motion of stars within 17″ of the core did not require an IMBH to explain. However, simulations can not rule out one with a mass of a few thousand M☉. Based upon radial velocity measurements within an arcsecond of the core, Kiselev et al. (2008) made the claim of an IMBH, likewise with mass of (1–9)×103M☉.[12]
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^ abcCite error: The named reference DiCriscienzo2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference Oliveira was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Messier 62". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
^ abcCite error: The named reference Milone2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference Boyles2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ abCite error: The named reference Forbes2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ abCite error: The named reference McNamara2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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^ abcCite error: The named reference Beccari2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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Messier62 or M62, also known as NGC 6266 or the Flickering Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of stars in the south of the equatorial constellation...
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...
automobile engine. Messier62, a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. FAB-500 M-62, a Soviet/Russian air-dropped bomb. Shvetsov ASh-62, an aircraft...
magnitude is only +15.75. List of planetary nebulae Messier object New General Catalogue List of Messier objects NGC 6565, which is undergoing a similar process...
has media related to Messier 75. Messier 75, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page Garner, Rob, ed. (16 March 2018), Messier 75, NASA, retrieved 5...
doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/2/476, hdl:2152/34371, S2CID 120965440. "Messier 5". SEDS Messier Catalog. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved...
elliptical galaxy Messier 60 were both discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in April 1779 when observing comet seeming close by. Charles Messier listed both...
galaxies Messier 32 and Messier 110. Galaxy collision with Messier 82 forms its patterned spiral disc: galaxy interactions between NGC 3077 and Messier 81;...
of Messier objects Messier 91 Messier 95 Messier 109 M100 NGC 4536 The other barred spiral galaxies in Messier's catalogue are Messier 91, Messier 95...
Nebula Trifid Nebula seen at different wavelengths List of Messier objects List of nebulae Messier object New General Catalogue Wikipedia Project: Astronomical...
Messier 31". Astrophysical Journal. 69: 103–158. Bibcode:1929ApJ....69..103H. doi:10.1086/143167. Baade, Walter (1944). "The Resolution of Messier 32...
later verified by his colleague Charles Messier on June 14, 1779. The galaxy became listed as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue. In the mid-19th century,...
astronomers detected three new millisecond pulsars in the globular cluster Messier62. In 2006, several discoveries were announced, including a large coil-shaped...
de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2010-01-25.[permanent dead link] "Messier 76". The SEDS Messier Catalog Webpages. Retrieved 2010-01-25. Ramos-Larios, G.; Phillips...
in the constellation Ophiuchus. It is located in the globular cluster Messier62, at a distance of 5,600 parsecs (18,000 ly) from Earth. The pulsar was...
close-up view of the rose-coloured star forming region Messier 17. List of Messier objects Messier object New General Catalogue "NGC 6618". SIMBAD. Centre...
name indicates that the planetary system belongs to the globular cluster Messier62. List of globular clusters Extragalactic Distance Scale Kraken galaxy...
Milky Way. It is similar to other old-bulge globular clusters such as Messier62, NGC 6522, NGC 6558, and Haute-Provence 1. First discovered on the National...
suggestion to assign the galaxy a Messier number was made by Kenneth Glyn Jones in 1967, making it the last member of the Messier List. This galaxy has a morphological...
infall proper into the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). List of galaxies Messier object List of Messier objects New General Catalogue NGC 55 Pisces Dwarf Andromeda-Milky...
was independently rediscovered in 1758 by Charles Messier as he was observing a bright comet. Messier catalogued it as the first entry in his catalogue...
Elizabeth Dennigan. Messier earned her BA degree from Roger Williams University, and her MEd from Rhode Island College. 2012 Messier was unopposed for both...
Pleiades (/ˈpliː.ədiːz, ˈpleɪ-, ˈplaɪ-/), also known as the Seven Sisters, Messier 45, and other names by different cultures, is an asterism and an open star...
Nebula List of diffuse nebulae List of Messier objects Messier 43, which is part of the Orion Nebula Messier 78, a reflection nebula New General Catalogue...