M26 (NGC 6694)
Open cluster in the constellation Scutum
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M26 is 89 million years old, 5,000 light years distant from us and has an odd dark spot towards the center, which might not be actually in M26 but rather a galactic dust lane between us and M26.
Image credit: www.mistisoftware.com/astronomy -
M26 is a tight cluster with a magnitude of about 8.0.
Image credit: Two Micron All-Star Survey (2MASS)
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Messier Monday: The could-be-better cluster, M26
Discusses the mysterious dark spot in M26, describes how to find it in the night sky and has lots more lovely pictures. -
Messier 26
How to locate M26 in binoculars and some history on the cluster. -
Messier 26
Information on M26 from SEDS (Students for the Exploration and Development of Space)
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