Globular cluster
The Great Hercules Cluster
Also M13 · NGC 6205
A ball of hundreds of thousands of ancient stars, one of the brightest globular clusters in the northern sky.
Measured
- Distance
- about 24,200 light-years (published estimates 23,900–24,500)
- Size
- about 168 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Hercules
- Position (J2000)
- RA 16h 41m 41s, Dec +36.46°
How far, from the Sun
About 24,200 light-years. To cross it:
- Light24,200 years
- Voyager 1's speed430 million years
- Driving at 100 km/h261 billion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- Its mass is about 480,000 times the Sun's.
- It is roughly 12 billion years old.
- The 1974 Arecibo radio message was aimed at it; it will take about 25,000 years to arrive.
How it was found
- Edmond Halley discovered it in 1714.
Where this comes from
- Baumgardt & Vasiliev 2021, Gaia EDR3 (7.42 ± 0.08 kpc)
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.