Astronomy Photo: M56
My Observation:
Taken: 27 April 2024 at 1:34AM EST
Equipment: Unistellar Equinox2
General Information:
- Messier Designation: M56
- Type: Globular Cluster
- Distance from Earth: 33,000 light years
Messier 56, or M56, is a globular cluster located in the constellation Lyra, roughly 33,000 light-years away from Earth. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1779, M56 is composed of hundreds of thousands of ancient stars densely packed into a spherical shape, which is typical of globular clusters. The cluster’s stars are gravitationally bound, sharing a common motion through space, and are characterized by their old age and low metallicity, reflecting the early stages of the Milky Way’s formation. M56 appears relatively faint in the night sky, making it a challenging but rewarding target for amateur astronomers equipped with telescopes. This cluster provides valuable clues about the early chemical environment of the galaxy and the evolutionary history of stellar populations.
Additional Details from NASA:
Hubble Image:
