Waid Observatory

Object:M18

Date: Sept. 4, 2018    -    Location: Davis Mountains west of Fort Davis, TX
Telescope: Stellarvue SV102ED   Mount: MI-250   Camera: ST-8300M
Exposure: R G & B = 30 min. each  -  Bin 1X1  -  5 min. Sub-Exposures
Click on the image below to view at higher resolution.


 
M18

 

M18 - Open Cluster in Sagittarius 1

M18 is also designated NGC 6613 and was included in Charles Messier's catalog in 1764.  It is a loose open cluster of stars located in the constellation Sagittarius near the more famous Swan Nebula. (M17)  It is a young cluster with and estimated age of only 32 million years.  The estimated distance from the Earth to M18 is about 4,900 light-years.

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_18

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid