Messier 12 Explained

Messier 12
Epoch:J2000
Class:IX
Constellation:Ophiuchus
Appmag V:6.7[1]
Size V:16.0
Radius Ly:37.2 ly[2]
Metal Fe:–1.14
Age:13.8 ± 1.1 Gyr
Names:NGC 6218

Messier 12 or M 12 (also designated NGC 6218) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It was discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier on May 30, 1764, who described it as a "nebula without stars". In dark conditions this cluster can be faintly seen with a pair of binoculars. Resolving the stellar components requires a telescope with an aperture of 8inches or greater. In a 10inches scope, the granular core shows a diameter of 3 (arcminutes) surrounded by a 10 halo of stars.

M12 is roughly 3° northwest from the cluster M10 and 5.6° east southeast from star Lambda Ophiuchi. It is also located near the 6th magnitude 12 Ophiuchi. The cluster is about 16400ly from Earth and has a spatial diameter of about 75 light-years. The brightest stars of M12 are of 12th magnitude. M10 and M12 are only a few thousand light-years away from each other and each cluster would appear at about magnitude 4.5 from the other. With a Shapley-Sawyer rating of IX, it is rather loosely packed for a globular and was once thought to be a tightly concentrated open cluster. Thirteen variable stars have been recorded in this cluster. M12 is approaching us at a velocity of 16 km/s.[3]

A study published in 2006 concluded that this cluster has an unusually low number of low-mass stars. The authors surmise that they were stripped from the cluster by passage through the relatively matter-rich plane of the Milky Way.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Messier 12 . 21 July 2024 . SEDS Messier Catalog.
  2. distance × sin(diameter_angle / 2) = 37.2 ly radius
  3. Web site: Messier 12: Gumball Globular Messier Objects. www.messier-objects.com. 11 March 2015 . 2015-08-17.