NGC 6316 | |
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![]() NGC 6316 as seen through the Hubble Space Telescope | |
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Class | III [1] |
Constellation | Ophiuchus |
Right ascension | 17h 16m 37.42s [2] |
Declination | −28° 08′ 24.0″ [2] |
Distance | 36.86 ± 0.98 kly (11.3 ± 0.3 kpc) [3] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.03 [2] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 4.9′ × 4.9′ [1] |
Physical characteristics | |
Metallicity | [Fe/H] = -0.45 [4] -0.87 [5] -0.90 [3] dex |
Estimated age | 13.1 ± 0.5 Gyr [3] |
Notable features | Relatively metal-rich globular cluster |
Other designations | GCl 57, VDBH 219 [2] |
NGC 6316 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. Its Shapley-Sawyer Concentration Class is III, meaning that it has a "strong inner core of stars" and was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on 24 May 1784. [6] It is at a distance of about 37,000 light years away from the Earth. [3] NGC 6316 has a metallicity of -0.45, [4] although new studies suggest this cluster to be more metal Poor, with a metallicity of -0.87 [5] and -0.9; [3] this means that its ratio of hydrogen/helium to other elements is only 35% that of the Sun, but still enough to be considered a "metal-rich" globular cluster. [7]