Messier 80
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox globular cluster
Messier 80 (also known as M80 or NGC 6093) is a globular cluster located approximately Template:Convert from Earth in the constellation Scorpius. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1781, it is one of the densest globular clusters in the Milky Way, containing several hundred thousand stars within a spatial diameter of about 95 light-years.<ref name=SEDS>Template:Cite web</ref>
The cluster is situated in the Galactic halo, more than twice as distant as the Galactic Center, and lies midway between the stars α Scorpii (Antares) and β Scorpii in a region rich with nebulæ. With an apparent angular diameter of 10 arcminutes, it can be observed from locations below the 67th parallel north using modest amateur telescopes, where it appears as a mottled ball of light under low light pollution conditions.<ref name=SEDS/>
Messier 80 is notable for its high population of blue stragglers, stars that appear younger than the cluster itself. Hubble Space Telescope observations reveal these stars are concentrated in distinct regions, suggesting frequent stellar interactions or collisions in the cluster's dense core.<ref name=SEDS/> On May 21, 1860, the cluster hosted the nova T Scorpii, which briefly outshone the entire cluster with an absolute magnitude of −8.5 and reached an apparent magnitude of +7.0, visible through telescopes and binoculars.<ref name=SEDS/>
Gallery
-
M80 is on the far-right edge of this image of Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex toward the top
-
Map showing the location of M80
See also
References
External links
- Template:Commonscat-inline
- Messier 80, SEDS Messier pages
- Messier 80, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page
- Template:APOD
- Messier 80 at ESA/Hubble Template:Webarchive
- Template:WikiSky
Template:Portal bar Template:Catalogs Template:Messier objects Template:Ngc65