Caldwell 16
Star cluster in Lacerta · 2,500 light-years
🔭 Explore Caldwell 16 in the 3D map →View Caldwell 16 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lacerta |
| Right ascension | 22h 15m 09s |
| Declination | +49° 54′ |
| Object distance | 2,500 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 6.4 |
| Apparent size | 15′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 10.9 light-years across |
| Also known as | C16 · NGC 7243 |
Caldwell 16 is a star cluster (NGC 7243) in Lacerta — a family of stars bound by gravity. It appears as number 16 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 15 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 6.4, it is a rewarding binocular and small-telescope target.
Although it appears about 15′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 10.9 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Caldwell 16
Caldwell 16 lies in the constellation Lacerta and is best placed in the evening sky around August. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. It is a comfortable target for binoculars and small telescopes.
See Caldwell 16 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Caldwell 16 and see it in context among the real stars around it. Launch the 3D view →
Sources
- Position, magnitude and angular size from the OpenNGC catalogue (Mattia Verga).
- Object identity cross-referenced with SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg).
- Image credits and the original observation source are linked with each photograph.
Related objects
- Pleiades — star cluster
- Hercules Cluster — star cluster
- Small Sgr Star Cloud — star cluster
- Messier 25 — star cluster
- Messier 103 — star cluster