Messier 13

Last updated
Messier 13
Messier 13.jpg
Globular cluster Messier 13 in Hercules
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Class V [1] [2]
Constellation Hercules
Right ascension 16h 41m 41.24s [3]
Declination +36° 27′ 35.5″ [3]
Distance 22.2  kly (6.8  kpc) [4]
Apparent magnitude (V)5.8 [5]
Apparent dimensions (V)20 arcminutes
Physical characteristics
Absolute magnitude –8.5
Mass6×105 [6]   M☉
Radius84 ly [7]
Metallicity  = –1.33 [8] dex
Estimated age11.65  Gyr [8]
Notable featuresOne of the best-known clusters of the Northern Hemisphere
Other designationsNGC 6205 [5]
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

Messier 13 or M13, also designated NGC 6205 and sometimes called the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules or the Hercules Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of several hundred thousand stars in the constellation of Hercules.

Contents

Discovery and visibility

Messier 13 was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1714, [2] and cataloged by Charles Messier on June 1, 1764, [9] into his list of objects not to mistake for comets; Messier's list, including Messier 13, eventually became known as the Messier catalog. [10] It is located at right ascension 16h 41.7m, declination +36° 28'. Messier 13 is often described by astronomers as the most magnificent globular cluster visible to northern observers. [2]

About one third of the way from Vega to Arcturus, four bright stars in Hercules form the Keystone asterism, the broad torso of the hero. M13 can be seen in this asterism 2⁄3 of the way north (by west) from Zeta to Eta Herculis. With an apparent magnitude of 5.8, [2] Messier 13 may be visible to the naked eye with averted vision on dark nights. [2] Messier 13 is prominent in traditional binoculars as a bright, round patch of light. [2] Its diameter is about 23 arcminutes and it is readily viewable in small telescopes. [11] At least four inches of telescope aperture resolves stars in Messier 13's outer extent as small pinpoints of light. However, only larger telescopes resolve stars further into the center of the cluster. [12] The cluster is visible throughout the year from latitudes greater than 36 degrees north, with the longest visibility during Northern Hemisphere spring and summer. [13]

Nearby to Messier 13 is NGC 6207, a 12th-magnitude edge-on galaxy that lies 28 arcminutes directly northeast. [14] A small galaxy, IC 4617, lies halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, north-northeast of the large globular cluster's center. At low powers the cluster is bracketed by two seventh–magnitude stars. [15]

Characteristics

About 145 light-years in diameter, M13 is composed of several hundred thousand stars, with estimates varying from around 300,000 to over half a million. [15] The brightest star in the cluster is a red giant, the variable star V11, also known as V1554 Herculis, [16] with an apparent visual magnitude of 11.95. M13 is 22,200–25,000 light-years away from Earth, [9] and the globular cluster is one of over one hundred that orbit the center of the Milky Way. [17] [18]

Single stars in this globular cluster were first resolved in 1779. [9] Compared to the stars in the neighborhood of the Sun, the stars of the M13 population are more than a hundred times more densely packed. [9] They are so close together that they sometimes collide and produce new stars. [9] The newly formed, young stars, known as "blue stragglers", are particularly interesting to astronomers. [9]

The last three variables (V63, V64 and V65) were discovered from Spain in April 2021, March 2022 and January 2024 respectively.

Arecibo message

The 1974 Arecibo message, which contained encoded information about the human race, DNA, atomic numbers, Earth's position and other information, was beamed from the Arecibo Observatory radio telescope towards Messier 13 as an experiment in contacting potential extraterrestrial civilizations in the cluster. M13 was chosen because it was a large, relatively close star cluster that was available at the time and place of the ceremony. [19] The cluster will move through space during the transit time; opinions differ as to whether or not the cluster will be in a position to receive the message by the time that it arrives. [20] [21]

Literary references

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 4</span> Globular cluster in Scorpius

Messier 4 or M4 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Scorpius. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and catalogued by Charles Messier in 1764. It was the first globular cluster in which individual stars were resolved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 14</span> Globular cluster in Ophiuchus

Messier 14 is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 5</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Serpens

Messier 5 or M5 is a globular cluster in the constellation Serpens. It was discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1702.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 107</span> Globular cluster in Ophiuchus

Messier 107 or M107, also known as NGC 6171, is a very loose globular cluster in a very mildly southern part of the sky close to the equator in Ophiuchus, and is the last such object in the Messier Catalogue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 3</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Canes Venatici

Messier 3 is a globular cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 72</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius

Messier 72 is a globular cluster in the south west of the very mildly southern constellation of Aquarius.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 2</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius

Messier 2 or M2 is a globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius, five degrees north of the star Beta Aquarii. It was discovered by Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746, and is one of the largest known globular clusters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 80</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Scorpius

Messier 80 is a globular cluster in the constellation Scorpius. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781, being one of his first discoveries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 9</span> Globular cluster in Ophiuchus

Messier 9 or M9 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It is positioned in the southern part of the constellation to the southwest of Eta Ophiuchi, and lies atop a dark cloud of dust designated Barnard 64. The cluster was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier on June 3, 1764, who described it as a "nebula without stars". In 1783, English astronomer William Herschel was able to use his reflector to resolve individual stars within the cluster. He estimated the cluster to be 7–8′ in diameter with stars densely packed near the center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 12</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus

Messier 12 or M 12 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 8 in (20 cm) or greater. In a 10 in (25 cm) scope, the granular core shows a diameter of 3′ (arcminutes) surrounded by a 10′ halo of stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 15</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus

Messier 15 or M15 is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. It was discovered by Jean-Dominique Maraldi in 1746 and included in Charles Messier's catalogue of comet-like objects in 1764. At an estimated 12.5±1.3 billion years old, it is one of the oldest known globular clusters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 22</span> Elliptical globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius

Messier 22 or M22, also known as NGC 6656, is an elliptical globular cluster of stars in the constellation Sagittarius, near the Galactic bulge region. It is one of the brightest globulars visible in the night sky. The brightest stars are 11th magnitude, with hundreds of stars bright enough to resolve with an 8" telescope. It is just south of the sun's position in mid-December, and northwest of Lambda Sagittarii, the northernmost star of the "Teapot" asterism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 28</span> Globular cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius

Messier 28 or M28, also known as NGC 6626, is a globular cluster of stars in the center-west of Sagittarius. It was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1764. He briefly described it as a "nebula containing no star... round, seen with difficulty in 31⁄2-foot telescope; Diam 2′."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 53</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices

Messier 53 is a globular cluster in the Coma Berenices constellation. It was discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1775. M53 is one of the more outlying globular clusters, being about 60,000 light-years (18.4 kpc) light-years away from the Galactic Center, and almost the same distance from the Solar System. The cluster has a core radius (rc) of 2.18 pc, a half-light radius (rh) of 5.84 pc, and a tidal radius (rtr) of 239.9 pc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 55</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius

Messier 55 is a globular cluster in the south of the constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1752 while observing from what today is South Africa. Starting in 1754, Charles Messier made several attempts to find this object from Paris but its low declination meant from there it rises daily very little above the horizon, hampering observation. He observed and catalogued it in 1778. The cluster can be seen with 50 mm binoculars; resolving individual stars needs a medium-sized telescope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 56</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Lyra

Messier 56 is a globular cluster in the constellation Lyra. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1779. It is angularly found about midway between Albireo and Sulafat. In a good night sky it is tricky to find with large (50–80 mm) binoculars, appearing as a slightly fuzzy star. The cluster can be resolved using a telescope with an aperture of 8 in (20 cm) or larger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 69</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius

Messier 69 or M69, also known NGC 6637, is a globular cluster in the southern constellation of Sagittarius. It can be found 2.5° to the northeast of the star Epsilon Sagittarii and is dimly visible in 50 mm aperture binoculars. The cluster was discovered by Charles Messier on August 31, 1780, the same night he discovered M70. At the time, he was searching for an object described by Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1751–2 and thought he had rediscovered it, but it is unclear if Lacaille actually described M69.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 70</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius

Messier 70 or M70, also known as NGC 6681, is a globular cluster of stars to be found in the south of Sagittarius. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1780. The famous comet Hale–Bopp was discovered near this cluster in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 92</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Hercules

Messier 92 is a globular cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 2419</span> Globular cluster in the constellation Lynx

NGC 2419 is a globular cluster in the constellation Lynx. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 31, 1788. NGC 2419 is at a distance of about 300,000 light years from the Solar System and at the same distance from the Galactic Center.

References

  1. ↑ Shapley, Harlow; Sawyer, Helen B. (August 1927), "A Classification of Globular Clusters", Harvard College Observatory Bulletin, 849 (849): 11–14, Bibcode:1927BHarO.849...11S.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thompson, Robert; Thompson, Barbara (2007). Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer. DIY science. O'Reilly Media, Inc. p. 258. ISBN   978-0596526856.
  3. 1 2 Goldsbury, Ryan; et al. (December 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. X. New Determinations of Centers for 65 Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 140 (6): 1830–1837, arXiv: 1008.2755 , Bibcode:2010AJ....140.1830G, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1830, S2CID   119183070.
  4. ↑ Paust, Nathaniel E. Q.; et al. (February 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. VIII. Effects of Environment on Globular Cluster Global Mass Functions", The Astronomical Journal, 139 (2): 476–491, Bibcode:2010AJ....139..476P, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/2/476, hdl: 2152/34371 , S2CID   120965440.
  5. 1 2 "M 13". SIMBAD . Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg . Retrieved 2006-11-15.
  6. ↑ Leonard, Peter J. T.; Richer, Harvey B.; Fahlman, Gregory G. (1992), "The mass and stellar content of the globular cluster M13", Astronomical Journal , 104: 2104, Bibcode:1992AJ....104.2104L, doi:10.1086/116386.
  7. ↑ distance × sin(diameter_angle / 2) = 84 ly radius
  8. 1 2 Forbes, Duncan A.; Bridges, Terry (May 2010), "Accreted versus in situ Milky Way globular clusters", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society , 404 (3): 1203–1214, arXiv: 1001.4289 , Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1203F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16373.x, S2CID   51825384.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Garner, Rob (2017-10-06). "Messier 13 (The Hercules Cluster)". NASA. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  10. ↑ "Messier 13 (M13) - The Great Hercules Cluster - Universe Today". Universe Today. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  11. ↑ "M 13". Messier Objects Mobile -- Charts, Maps & Photos. 2016-10-16. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  12. ↑ "How to See the Great Hercules Cluster of Stars". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  13. ↑ "M13: Great Cluster in Hercules | EarthSky.org". earthsky.org. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
  14. ↑ "NGC 6207". Skyhound. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  15. 1 2 O'Meara, Stephen James; Levy, David H. (1998), Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects, Cambridge University Press, p. 69, ISBN   978-0521553322.
  16. ↑ Samus, N.N.; Pastukhova, E.N.; Durlevich, O.V.; Kazarovets, E.V.; Kireeva, N.N. (2020), "The 83rd Name-List of Variable Stars. Variables in Globular Clusters and Novae", Peremennye Zvezdy (Variable Stars) 40, No. 8, 40 (8): 8, Bibcode:2020PZ.....40....8S, doi:10.24411/2221-0474-2020-10009
  17. ↑ "Control Telescope :: Stars & Nebulae" . Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  18. ↑ "Star Cluster" . Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  19. ↑ Larry Klaes (2005-11-30). "Making Contact". Ithaca Times. Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2007-07-27.
  20. ↑ "It's the 25th anniversary of Earth's first attempt to phone E.T." 1999-11-12. Archived from the original on 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  21. ↑ "Science 2.0". In regard to the email from. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.