Asterism Messier 73

Messier 73: Section of the Sloan Digitized Sky Survey [147]

History

Charles Messier discovered M 73 on October 4th and 5th, 1780 and wrote: «Clusters of three or four small stars, which at first glance look like a nebula, contain some nebula: the cluster is on the parallel of the previous one [M 72]: the position was determined with the same star ν Aquarii.» [281]

Physical Properties

This is neither a real star cluster nor a multiple star system, but a random group of four stars of 10th to 12th magnitude, which, according to measurements by the Gaia space probe, over distances of 321 pc to 706 pc (1047 to 2303 light years) stand scattered. [145]

Revised+Historic NGC/IC, Version 22/9, © Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke [277]
DesignationNGC 6994
Type*4
Right Ascension20h 58m 56.0s
Declination-12° 38' 00"
Diameter1.4 arcmin
Visual magnitude8.9 mag
Dreyer DescriptionCl, eP, vlC, no neb
Identification, RemarksM 73, OCL 89

Finder Chart

M 73 is located in the constellation Aquarius (Aquarius). It is best to look for M 72 first. About 1° 20' east of it is M 73. The best observation time is August to October.

Chart Asterism Messier 73
Asterism Messier 73 in constellation Aquarius. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ≈ 6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ≈ 20 mag. [149, 160]

Visual Observation

Description pending ...

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

Abell 70
Messier 2
Messier 30
Messier 72
Saturn Nebula
NGC 7009

References