 |
CHAMÄLEON + ONJALA OBSERVATORY DeepSky | SITEMAP HOME CHAMÄLEON |
|
 |
|||
| « back to overview Cluster | Load
higher resolution (1800 x 1400 Pixel 2800 x 1800 Pixel) |
Object description |
In this image section of Messier 4 and NGC 6144, H-II emission, blue (sigma Sco) - and the yellow reflection nebulae of Antares are mixed.
Messier 4 (NGC 6121) is a globular cluster of concentration class IX (weak concentration). At a distance of only 700 light years, M4 is the closest globular cluster to the solar system. It has a physical diameter of 75 light years and contains about 100 000 stars. A special study of over 600 white dwarf stars suggests an age of about 12.7 billion years. First observed by Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1746, Messier 4 was described by Charles Messier in 1764 as "a cluster of very small stars, which with smaller telescopes appears more like a nebula".
NGC 6144 is a small globular cluster of concentration class XI. It is located almost 28 000 light years away from the solar system. NGC 6144 was first observed by William Herschel on 22 May 1784. John Dreyer, a Danish-Irish astronomer, described it "as of considerable size, strongly concentrated, brightening towards the centre, and readily resolvable into single stars".
Johan Ludvig Emil Dreyer compiled the NGC catalogue, a list of over 7000 star clusters, nebulae and galaxies, and later added the IC catalogue.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Sun | Moon | Solar System | DeepSky | Widefield | Miscellaneous | Spec. Projects |