< Messier Index
Messier 68

M68 from w:Hubble Space Telescope; 3.32′ view
Credit: w:NASA/w:STScI/w:WikiSky
Observation data (w:J2000 epoch)
Class X
Constellation Hydra
Right ascension 12h 39m 28.01s[1]
Declination -26° 44′ 34.9″[1]
Distance 33.3 kly[citation needed] (10.2 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V) +9.67[1]
Apparent dimensions (V) 11′.0
Physical characteristics
Mass - kg (- M)
Radius 53 ly[2]
VHB -
Estimated age 11.2 Gyr
Notable features Relatively metal poor.[citation needed]
Other designations M68, NGC 4590, GCl 20[1]

Messier 68 (also known as M68 or NGC 4590) is a w:globular cluster in the w:Hydra constellation. It was discovered by w:Charles Messier in w:1780. M68 is at a distance of about 33,000 w:light-years away from w:Earth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 4590. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
  2. ↑ distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 ) = 53 ly. radius
 
Messier Index
M1 • M2 • M3 • M4 • M5 • M6 • M7 • M8 • M9 • M10 • M11 • M12 • M13 • M14 • M15 • M16 • M17 • M18 • M19 • M20 • M21 • M22 • M23 • M24 • M25 • M26 • M27 • M28 • M29 • M30 • M31 • M32 • M33 • M34 • M35 • M36 • M37 • M38 • M39 • M40 • M41 • M42 • M43 • M44 • M45 • M46 • M47 • M48 • M49 • M50 • M51 • M52 • M53 • M54 • M55 • M56 • M57 • M58 • M59 • M60 • M61 • M62 • M63 • M64 • M65 • M66 • M67 • M68 • M69 • M70 • M71 • M72 • M73 • M74 • M75 • M76 • M77 • M78 • M79 • M80 • M81 • M82 • M83 • M84 • M85 • M86 • M87 • M88 • M89 • M90 • M91 • M92 • M93 • M94 • M95 • M96 • M97 • M98 • M99 • M100 • M101 • M102 • M103 • M104 • M105 • M106 • M107 • M108 • M109 • M110
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