# Messier 107

Messier 107
M107 from Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view
Credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassX[1]
Right ascension16h 32m 31.86s[2]
Declination–13° 03′ 13.6″[2]
Distance20.9 kly (6.4 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)+8.85[4]
Apparent dimensions (V)13′.0
Physical characteristics
Mass1.82×105[3] M
Metallicity${\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}$ = –0.95[6] dex
Estimated age13.95 Gyr[6]
Other designationsNGC 6171, GCl 44[4]

Globular Cluster M107 (also known as Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is the last globular cluster in the Messier Catalogue. It is a very loose globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in April 1782 and independently by William Herschel in 1793. It was not until 1947 that Helen Sawyer Hogg added it and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects.

M107 is close to the galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 light-years from Earth.[3] There are 25 known variable stars in this cluster.