Messier 3
Star cluster in Canes Venatici · 33,900 light-years
🔭 Explore Messier 3 in the 3D map →View Messier 3 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Right ascension | 13h 42m 11s |
| Declination | +28° 23′ |
| Object distance | 33,900 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 6.4 |
| Apparent size | 16.2′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 159.7 light-years across |
| Also known as | M3 · NGC 5272 |
Messier 3 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 5272) in Canes Venatici — 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 16.2 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 6.4, it is an easy target for binoculars and small telescopes.
Although it appears about 16.2′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 159.7 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Messier 3
Messier 3 lies in the constellation Canes Venatici and is best placed in the evening sky around April. 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 Messier 3 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 3 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