< Messier Index
M7
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
Constellation Scorpius
Right ascension 17h 53.9m
Declination −34° 49′
Distance 0.8 kly (245 Pc)
Apparent magnitude (V) 3.3
Apparent dimensions (V) 80.0′
Other designations NGC 6475, Ptolemy Cluster

Messier 7 or M7, also designated NGC 6475 and sometimes known as the Ptolemy Cluster, is an w:open cluster of w:stars in the w:constellation of w:Scorpius.

The cluster is easily detectable with the w:naked eye, close to the "stinger" of Scorpius. It has been known since w:antiquity; it was first recorded by the 1st-century astronomer w:Ptolemy, who described it as a w:nebula in 130 AD. w:Giovanni Batista Hodierna observed it before 1654 and counted 30 stars in it. w:Charles Messier catalogued the cluster in 1764 and subsequently included it in his list of w:comet-like objects as 'M7'.

Telescopic observations of the cluster reveal about 80 stars within a field of view of 1.3° across. At the cluster's estimated distance of 800–1000 w:light years this corresponds to an actual diameter of 18–25 light years. The age of the cluster is around 220 million years while the brightest star is of magnitude 5.6.

 
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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