M72 is one of the more remote of Messier's globular clusters: At about 53,000 light years, it lies a considerably distance beyond the Galactic center. It is of 9th or 10th apparent magnitude, but as it is so distant it is one of the more intrinsically luminous globular cluster. However, M72 is not very concentrated (Shapley classified it as class IX). It is approaching us quite rapidly, at 255 km/sec, and has the considerable number of 42 known variables. Its diameter is a bit more than 90 light years.
Right ascension | 20 : 50.7 (hours : minutes) |
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Declination | -12 : 44 (degrees : minutes) |
Distance | 60.0 (light-years*10^3) |
Visual magnitude | 9.8 |