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Messier 14 |
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 | M14 is a somewhat looser globular cluster than many, with a very small ellipticity (deviation from being exactly circular on the sky). Appearing in the constellation Ophiuchus, it is about 29,000 light-years away and about 72 light-years across.
In binoculars M14 is much fainter than it's nearby neighbors M10 and M12, this globular is JUST visible to averted vision by sweeping three binocular fields almost due east of M10. It lies in a relatively rich field of mag 5-8 stars, and is easily identified from almost any chart. Once found however, this object reveals no hint of detail, and very little extended size, to my binoculars. In a 8-inch scope, it's about the same size and brightness as M 10 and M 12, but it is hard to resolve. Despite various magnifications, it appears as nothing more than a fuzzy gray circle of light. A larger aperature begins only to resolve outlying stars. |
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M14 NGC 6402 Other description: Globular cluster. Constellation: Ophiuchus Dreyer description: Remarkable! Globular cluster, bright, very large, round, extremely rich in stars, very gradually much brighter middle, well resolved, stars of magnitude 15; = M14. Magnitude: 7.6 RA: 17h 37m 50.1s Dec: -03°15'19" RA: 17h 37m 36.0s Dec: -03°15'00" (Epoch 2000) Azm: 181°48'58" Alt: +40°26'57" Rise: 18:36 Transit: 00:25 Set: 06:18 Size:11.7' |