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Wild Duck Cluster

Coordinates: Sky map 18h 51.1m 00s, −06° 16′ 00″
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 216.7.225.78 (talk) at 15:02, 21 November 2016 (Distance was listed as 6,200 ly "or 2,900,000 years" which doesn't make any sense. I deleted the "or 2,900,000 years"). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Wild Duck Cluster
The Wild Duck Cluster (M11-NGC 6705)
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Right ascension18h 51.1m
Declination−06° 16′
Distance6,200 ly (1,900 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)6.3
Apparent dimensions (V)14.0′
Physical characteristics
Estimated age220 million years
Other designationsMessier 11, NGC 6705
Associations
ConstellationScutum
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11, or NGC 6705) is an open cluster in the constellation Scutum. It was discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1681. Charles Messier included it in his catalogue in 1764.

The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 250 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck).

  • The blue stars in the centre of the image are the young, hot stars of the cluster.[1]
    The blue stars in the centre of the image are the young, hot stars of the cluster.[1]
  • M11 is visible with binoculars towards the constellation of Scutum.
    M11 is visible with binoculars towards the constellation of Scutum.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wild Duck Cluster.

References

  1. ^ "Wild Ducks Take Flight in Open Cluster". www.eso.org. European Southern Observatory. Retrieved 3 October 2014.


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