Messier Gallery

Tri-color image of M22

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M22 (NGC 6656), a 6th magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius.

M22 is believed to be about 10,000 light-years away and about 50 light-years wide. According to Messier, German astronomer Abraham Ihle discovered M22 in 1665, making it the first globular discovered using a telescope (Messier himself did not observe M22 until 1764). 5-second exposure, 15 Jul 1996, 04:16 UT.

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