Messier 13
Constellation: Hercules
Distance: ~22,200 light years
Apparent Magnitude: 5.8
Actual Size: ~145 light years across
Visual Size: 20 arcminutes
Other Designations: NGC 6205
Discovered by Edmond Halley in 1714. Barely visible to the naked eye, but easily viewable in a small telescope, this beautiful cluster is comprised of over 300,000 stars.
In 1974, the Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico directed a message at Messier 13. Unfortunately, by the time the message arrives, the motion of Messier 13 around our galaxy means we will miss!
