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Image center holds a dense sphere of stars in colors of red, orange, yellow, white, and blue. The stars are densely packed at image center and taper out toward the image's edges. They are on a black background.
Hubble · Messier 80 · NASA, ESA, and G. Piotto (Universita degli Studi di Padova); Image Processing: Gladys Kober

Messier 80

Star cluster in Scorpius · 32,600 light-years

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TypeStar cluster
ConstellationScorpius
Right ascension16h 17m 03s
Declination−22° 59′
Object distance32,600 light-years
Apparent magnitude7.3
Apparent size5.7′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter54.1 light-years across
Also known asM80 · NGC 6093
Messier 80 is a star cluster (also catalogued as NGC 6093) in Scorpius — 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 5.7 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 7.3, it is an easy target for binoculars and small telescopes.

Although it appears about 5.7′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 54.1 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Messier 80

Messier 80 lies in the constellation Scorpius and is best placed in the evening sky around May. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. It is a comfortable target for binoculars and small telescopes.

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