Messier 55 (M55) is a large, bright globular star cluster in the constellation Sagittarius, visible in the summer months, about 17,600 light-years away. It's known for being loosely packed, allowing individual stars to be resolved even with medium-sized telescopes, unlike many other globular clusters that appear as a dense, hazy core. It's best viewed in dark skies, appearing as a fuzzy patch to binoculars and resolving into a grainy texture with larger telescopes.
Type: Globular cluster
Location: Constellation Sagittarius
Distance: ~17,600 light-years
Apparent Magnitude: ~6.3–7.4 (visible in binoculars)
Appearance: Loosely packed with a low central concentration, allowing stars to be seen all the way to the center.
Locate the "teapot" shape in Sagittarius.
Find the two stars that form the handle (Kaus Media and Ascella).
Extend a line southeast from the handle for about 2.5 times the distance between those two stars.
Best viewed in late summer (June–August).
Requires dark, moonless skies due to its low surface brightness.
Binoculars show a fuzzy patch; small to medium telescopes resolve individual stars. Image Credit ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA
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