M26

open star cluster · in Scutum

5,986 light-years from Earth

A rich cluster in Scutum, found by Messier in 1764 and dimmed about five times over by the dust between us. Its brightest star is a blue-white giant.

• 5,990 light-years (Gaia) · its stars spread over about 53 light-years
• about 100 to 140 million years old · 470 of its stars as Gaia measured them

kind

nebula · star cluster

catalogue

M26 · NGC 6694

size

53 light-years across