M26

Open cluster Messier 26 in Scutum is not so impressive as its apparent neighbor, M11, but is a very nice sight in the appropriate instrument. Containing only about 95 stars, the cluster is nevertheless quite beautiful, due to its relatively even distribution of stellar magnitudes, about 12. There is also a region of low star density around the nucleus, which may be due to interstellar dust obscuring part of the cluster. At a distance of about 5,000 light-years, M26 spans about 22 light-years of space.

Taken October 9, 2009, with the ST-8 on the C-14 operating at F:7. Exposure was 1 minute.