Messier 107

Messier 107
M107 from Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view Credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Class	X[1]
Right ascension	16^h 32^m 31.86^s[2]
Declination	–13° 03′ 13.6″[2]
Distance	20.9 kly (6.4 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	+8.85[4]
Apparent dimensions (V)	13′.0
Physical characteristics
Mass	1.82×10^5[3] M☉
Radius	39.5 ly[5]
Metallicity	${\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}$ = –0.95[6] dex
Estimated age	13.95 Gyr[6]
Other designations	NGC 6171, GCl 44[4]

Globular Cluster M107 (also known as Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is the last globular cluster in the Messier Catalogue. It is a very loose globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in April 1782 and independently by William Herschel in 1793. It wasn't until 1947 that Helen Sawyer Hogg added it and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects.

M107 is close to the galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 light-years from Earth.^[3] There are 25 known variable stars in this cluster.

Gallery

• 
  The globular star cluster Messier 107 image taken by the Wide Field Imager (WFI) on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope.
• 
  Map showing the location of M107.

See also

• New General Catalogue
• Wikipedia Project: Astronomical Objects

References

1. Shapley, Harlow; Sawyer, Helen B. (August 1927), "A Classification of Globular Clusters", Harvard College Observatory Bulletin (849): 11–14, Bibcode:1927BHarO.849...11S.
2. Goldsbury, Ryan; et al. (December 2010), "The ACS Survey of Galactic Globular Clusters. X. New Determinations of Centers for 65 Clusters", The Astronomical Journal, 140 (6): 1830–1837, arXiv:1008.2755, Bibcode:2010AJ....140.1830G, doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1830.
3. Boyles, J.; et al. (November 2011), "Young Radio Pulsars in Galactic Globular Clusters", The Astrophysical Journal, 742 (1): 51, arXiv:1108.4402, Bibcode:2011ApJ...742...51B, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/742/1/51.
4. "SIMBAD Astronomical Object Database". Results for NGC 6171. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
5. distance × sin( diameter_angle / 2 )=39.5 ly. radius
6. Forbes, Duncan A.; Bridges, Terry (May 2010), "Accreted versus in situ Milky Way globular clusters", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 404 (3): 1203–1214, arXiv:1001.4289, Bibcode:2010MNRAS.404.1203F, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.16373.x.

External links

• SEDS Messier pages: Messier 107
• Messier 107, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page
• Messier 107 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Coordinates: 16^h 32^m 31.91^s, −13° 03′ 13.1″