NGC 6366 is a
globular cluster
A globular cluster is a spheroidal conglomeration of stars. Globular clusters are bound together by gravity, with a higher concentration of stars towards their centers. They can contain anywhere from tens of thousands to many millions of membe ...
located in the constellation
Ophiuchus
Ophiuchus () is a large constellation straddling the celestial equator. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek (), meaning "serpent-bearer", and it is commonly represented as a man grasping a snake. The serpent is represented by the constella ...
. It is designated as XI in the
galaxy morphological classification scheme and was discovered by the German astronomer
Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke
Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke (February 5, 1835 in Groß-Heere, near Hannover – December 3, 1897 in Bonn) was a German astronomer.
Winnecke worked at Pulkovo Observatory near Saint Petersburg from 1858 to 1865, but returned to Germany an ...
on 12 April 1860.
It is at a distance of 11,700 light years away from earth.
NGC 6366 is similar in composition to
M 71 or
NGC 6342
NGC 6342 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. Its Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class is IV, and it was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on 28 May 1786. It is at a distance of 28,000 light ...
.
It is metal-rich for a globular cluster, and all of its stars appears to have formed in the same epoch.
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See also
* List of NGC objects (6001–7000)
* List of NGC objects
The following is a list of NGC objects, that is objects listed in the New General Catalogue (NGC). It is one of the largest comprehensive astronomical catalogues for deep sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
* List of NGC ...
References
External links
*
Globular clusters
6366
Ophiuchus (constellation)
Astronomical objects discovered in 1860
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