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M26
open cluster in Scutum
M26 is a small, faint open cluster in Scutum with an unusual gap of dim stars in its middle, thought to be a region where dust blocks the light. It sits in the dense Milky Way field near M11.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- M26
- Type
- open cluster
- Constellation
- Scutum
- Size
- 15′ across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 8
- Distance
- about 5,000 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Jul
- Typical prime months
- Apr to Sep
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Filter
- No filter (broadband)
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How to image M26
- At 15 arcminutes, use 800 to 1,200 mm.
- A wide frame can show it with M11, a few degrees away.
- Dense star fields make round stars and good guiding important.
Framing: what focal length?
M26 is small, so a "60% of the frame" focal length would be impractical. Here is how much of an APS-C frame it covers at common long focal lengths; expect to crop.
| Focal length | Share of the frame width |
|---|---|
| 1,000 mm | about 19% |
| 2,000 mm | about 37% |
| 3,000 mm | about 56% |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point M26 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 26° | Stays low |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 36° | Workable |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 46° | Workable |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 56° | Workable |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 64° | High in the sky |
Also worth imaging
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