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M62
globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M62 is a globular cluster in Ophiuchus, noticeably lopsided, with an off-center core that makes it one of the more irregular globulars in the Milky Way. It sits close to the galactic center, in a dusty field, and it is far enough south that most northern observers see it low.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- M62
- Type
- globular cluster
- Constellation
- Ophiuchus
- Size
- 15′ across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 6.6
- Distance
- about 22,500 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Jun
- Typical prime months
- Mar to Aug
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Filter
- No filter (broadband)
Pick a saved location or share your device location. Your coordinates are used only to calculate tonight and are not stored. To save locations, use the planner.
How to image M62
- Dec -30 puts it very low from mid-northern sites. Southern hemisphere sites are much better.
- At 15 arcminutes, use 800 to 1,200 mm.
- Dust near the galactic center reddens its light slightly.
Framing: what focal length?
M62 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 M62 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) | 5° | Stays low |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 15° | Stays low |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 25° | Stays low |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 35° | Workable |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 85° | High in the sky |
Also worth imaging
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