Messier 14

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus

Messier 14
Distance		30.3 kly (9.3 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	7.6[4]
Apparent dimensions (V)	11.0′
Physical characteristics
Mass	1.04×106[3] M☉
Radius	50 ly[5]
Metallicity	${\displaystyle {\begin{smallmatrix}\left[{\ce {Fe}}/{\ce {H}}\right]\end{smallmatrix}}}$ = –1.28[3] dex
Other designations	NGC 6402[2]
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

Messier 14 (also known as M14 or NGC 6402) is a globular cluster of stars in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.

At a distance of about 30,000 light-years, M14 contains several hundred thousand stars. At an apparent magnitude of +7.6 it can be easily observed with binoculars. Medium-sized telescopes will show some hint of the individual stars of which the brightest is of magnitude +14.

The total luminosity of M14 is in the order of 400,000 times that of the Sun corresponding to an absolute magnitude of -9.12. The shape of the cluster is decidedly elongated. M14 is about 100 light-years across.^[6]

A total of 70

from that time were studied in 1964. It is estimated that the nova reached a maximum brightness of magnitude +9.2, over five times brighter than the brightest 'normal' star in the cluster.

Slightly over 3° southwest of M14 lies the faint globular cluster NGC 6366.

Gallery

• 
  Messier 14 with amateur telescope
• 
  Map showing location of Messier 14

See also

• List of Messier objects

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Messier 14.

• SEDS Messier pages on M14
• M14, Galactic Globular Clusters Database page
• NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: The Comet and the Star Cluster (11 April 2016) - one of the two being M14
• Messier 14 on
  WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images