Messier 18
Star cluster in Sagittarius · 4,900 light-years
🔭 Explore Messier 18 in the 3D map →View Messier 18 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 18h 19m 58s |
| Declination | −17° 06′ |
| Object distance | 4,900 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 6.9 |
| Apparent size | 6′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 8.6 light-years across |
| Also known as | M18 · NGC 6613 |
Messier 18 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 6613) in Sagittarius — a gravitationally bound family of stars sharing a common origin. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 6 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 6.9, it is an easy target for binoculars and small telescopes.
Although it appears about 6′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 8.6 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Messier 18
Messier 18 lies in the constellation Sagittarius and is best placed in the evening sky around June. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. Lying near the celestial equator, it can be seen from both hemispheres. It is a comfortable target for binoculars and small telescopes.
See Messier 18 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 18 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