An open cluster within the Eagle


The younger open cluster NGC 6709 soars via the sky tonight, seen in Aquila with binoculars or any telescope.

  • The open star cluster NGC 6709, situated within the constellation Aquila close to its border with Ophiuchus, is observable with binoculars or telescopes.
  • NGC 6709 has an obvious magnitude of 6.7 and an angular dimension of roughly 13 arcminutes.
  • A 4-inch telescope reveals roughly three dozen stars inside NGC 6709, with bigger telescopes resolving extra.
  • Astronomical estimates place the age of NGC 6709 at round 140 million years.

This night, look excessive within the southeast just a few hours after sundown to search out the stately constellation Aquila the Eagle, anchored by its brightest star, magnitude 0.8 Altair. Within the northwestern areas of this constellation, close to the place it borders Ophiuchus, the brilliant open cluster NGC 6709 is our goal for research tonight. Shining at magnitude 6.7, this cluster is seen in binoculars or any sized scope, making it an awesome goal for inexperienced persons with any sort of apparatus. It lies slightly below 5° southwest of Third-magnitude 3.0 Zeta Aquilae. 

Spanning about 13’, NGC 6709 is a wealthy cluster that may showcase some three dozen stars via a 4-inch telescope. Bigger telescopes will reveal much more stars. Astronomers estimate the cluster is sort of younger, round 140 million years previous.

Dawn: 5:54 A.M.
Sundown: 8:18 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:53 A.M.
Moonset: 10:04 P.M.
Moon Section: Waxing crescent (10%)
*Instances for dawn, sundown, moonrise, and moonset are given in native time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. native time from the identical location.

For a glance forward at extra upcoming sky occasions, try our full Sky This Week column. 

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