NGC 6440: Globular Star Cluster (Sagittarius) RA: 17h 48.9m / DEC: -20° 21'.6 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
You will find this fine little globular just across the border from Ophiuchus in northeastern Sagittarius. A 190X view in my 10-inch Newtonian is rendered in the sketch at left. NGC 6440, a 9.3 magnitude globular star cluster, is centered in the field. None of its members is resolved, which in unsurprising considering the brightest stars in the cluster barely simmer at 16.7 magnitude. The globular appears 120" in diameter with an 11th magnitude GSC star along the northwest edge. A delicate, irregular mottling in brightness is seen after several minutes observation. The field is framed by a baker's dozen stars ranging from 10th to 13th magnitude. While you're in the neighborhood, don't miss NGC 6445, which lies 21' to the north. |
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