Butterfly Cluster (M6, NGC 6405)
 |
Credit: AURA, NOAO, NSF |
An open cluster in the constellation
Scorpius, 4° northwest of M7
(Ptolemy's Cluter), that contains about 80 stars roughly in the shape of
a butterfly. Visible to the naked eye, it was first noted by Giovanni Hodierna
before 1654. Its most conspicuous star is an orange giant K
star of magnitude 6.2.
| visual magnitude |
5.3 |
| angular size |
25' |
| diameter |
20 light-years |
| age |
about 50 million years |
| distance |
2,000 light-years |
| position |
R.A.17h 40.1m, Dec. -32° 13' |
Related categories
• NEBULAE
AND STAR CLUSTERS • MESSIER
CATALOGUE
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