Messier 56
Star cluster in Lyra · 32,900 light-years
🔭 Explore Messier 56 in the 3D map →View Messier 56 images →| Type | Star cluster |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Right ascension | 19h 16m 36s |
| Declination | +30° 11′ |
| Object distance | 32,900 light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 8.4 |
| Apparent size | 5.8′ (arc-minutes) |
| Approx. true diameter | 55.5 light-years across |
| Also known as | M56 · NGC 6779 |
Messier 56 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 6779) in Lyra — 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 5.8 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 8.4, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.
Although it appears about 5.8′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 55.5 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.
Observing Messier 56
Messier 56 lies in the constellation Lyra and is best placed in the evening sky around July. 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. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies.
See Messier 56 in Universe Finder
Open the interactive 3D map to fly to Messier 56 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