< Messier Index
Messier 26
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Constellation w:Scutum
Right ascension 18h 45.2m
Declination 09° 24
Distance 5.0 kly (1534 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V) 8.0
Apparent dimensions (V) 15.0
Other designations NGC 6694

Open Cluster M26 (also known as Messier Object 26 or NGC 6694) is an w:open cluster in the w:constellation w:Scutum. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier in w:1764.

M26 spans about 22 w:light years across and is at a distance of 5,000 light years from the w:Earth. The brightest star is of magnitude 11.9 and the age of this cluster has been calculated to be 89 million years. An interesting feature of M26 is a region of low w:star density near the nucleus, most likely caused by an obscuring cloud of w:interstellar matter between us and the cluster.

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