M 79
M 79
M79 is a beautiful globular cluster at a quite unusual location in the sky: Most globulars are grouped around the Galactic center, but this one is of the few which are situated in the other hemisphere. Being about 40,000 light years from us, it is outlying nearly 60,000 light years from the galactic center. Its apparent diameter of 8.7 minutes of arc corresponds to a linear extension of over 100 light years.
This cluster is slightly elliptical, extended at PA 45, and has only 7 known variables. It is receding at about 200 km/sec.
About 0.5 degrees to the SW lies the 5.5 mag star ADS 3954 with its 7th mag companion, separated by 3".
| Right ascension | 05 : 22.2 (hours : minutes) |
|---|---|
| Declination | -24 : 34 (degrees : minutes) |
| Distance | 54.0 (light-years*10^3) |
| Visual magnitude | 8.4 |
