M71

Credits: Keith Turnecliff, Long Itchington

Messier 71 (M71) is a globular cluster located in the small northern constellation Sagitta, the Arrow. The cluster lies at an approximate distance of 13,000 light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.1. It has the designation NGC 6838 in the New General Catalogue. Messier 71 is one of the smallest globular clusters known. It occupies an area of 7.2 arc minutes of apparent sky, which corresponds to a spatial diameter of 27 light years.

Facts about M71 by Keith Turnecliff

The cluster appears as a hazy patch of light in binoculars. Small telescopes begin to hint at resolution, but to resolve the cluster into stars, one needs at least a medium-sized telescope. The best time of year to observe M71 is during the summer.