M21

Click image for larger version.

M21, is an open cluster in Sagittarius with about 55 member stars.  At magnitude 5.9 M21 is an easy find with binoculars or a finder scope but is well camouflaged among all of the open clusters in the "steam" from the "teapot".  It's just a short hop of less than a degree from the Trifid Nebula, M20 to the southwest.  M21 is about 5,200 light years distant and is estimated to be about 20 light years in diameter.

Back to Messier Gallery

Date:  7/14/2007

Location:  CRO

Telescope:  LX200 10" SCT, f/6.3

Mount:  AP-1200

Camera:  Hutech modified Canon 350D, ISO 800

Exposure Count:  17 @ 5 minutes, 1 hours, 25 minutes total exposure.

Guiding:  CCD Soft with ST402ME, Orion 80ED