M6
Butterfly Cluster
NGC 6405
Type: Open Cluster
Constellation: Scorpius
Magnitude: 4.2
Size: 15.0'
RA-Dec: 17:40:35.9, -32:16:34
Difficulty: E E=easy, T=tough, C=challenging
Description:
A large and bright open cluster of 6th to 10th magnitude stars readily visible to the naked eye as a nebulous patch.   M6 contains many bright stars and in binoculars forms a lovely pair with nearby open cluster M7.   The stars in this cluster form an arrangement that suggests the outline of a butterfly with open wings giving rise to its name - The Butterfly cluster.   The brightest star in this cluster is a 6th magnitude yellow-orange giant star.   M6 is of intermediate age for an open cluster - 100 million years old.   As seen from our vantage point, it lies closer to the center of the galaxy than any other Messier object.
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