Globular cluster · Sagittarius

M22 Great Sagittarius Cluster

Also known as: NGC 6656

mag 5.124′ across

About

M22, the Great Sagittarius Cluster, is a globular cluster of magnitude 5.1 in Sagittarius, about 24′ across.

M22 is in the constellation Sagittarius.
Best evenings: around mid-August it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 56° N.
Teapot: One of the finest globular clusters, 2½° north-east of Kaus Borealis, the top of the lid.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesAt the limit of vision from a very dark site, like a faint fuzzy star.
Binoculars (10×50)A fuzzy ball, brighter towards the middle.
Telescope (6–8 inch)Resolves into a swarm of stars at medium power, with a dense core.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	M22, NGC 6656
Type	Globular cluster
Magnitude	5.1The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	24′the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	≈ 20.6 mag/arcsec²Estimate from the magnitude and size, per square arcsecond.
Constellation	Sagittarius
Right ascension (J2000)	18h 36m 24.2s
Declination (J2000)	−23° 54′ 12″