M 22 (GC)
Globular Cluster in Sagittarius
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18h 36m 24.6s | -23° 54′ 16.3″ | 32.0′ | 5.2 | 12.5 | VII | GC | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 48′ × 48′
Background
M22 is one of the brightest globular clusters in the sky — magnitude 5.1, 10,000 light-years away in Sagittarius. After 47 Tucanae and ω Centauri, the third-brightest globular cluster visible from Earth. Distinctive for its slightly elliptical shape and rich chains of brighter stars streaming out from the core.
My Observing Notes
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): With the telescope on λ Sgr, M22 jumps out in the viewfinder as a bright 5.1-magnitude smudge. In the eyepiece, the core is well resolved into individual stars. The irregular shape with chains of brighter stars streaming out from the core makes it one of my favourite globulars.(Friday, May 2025)
References
Charts
Ultra-wide view (~25° field)
Wide-field view with Telrad rings (4°, 2°, 0.5°)
Finderscope view (9×50 RACI, ~4.4° TFOV)
Eyepiece view — 35 mm Panoptic on 12-inch f/5 (1.6° TFOV)