Discovered 1745-46 by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux.
M71 is a loose globular cluster in the constellation Sagitta. There has been much discussion as to the classification of the cluster. It was classified by early astronomers as a dense open cluster but resent consensus is that M71 is a "loose" globular cluster. It has a high metallicity content, which is unusual for a globular. Only M69 has a higher abundance of metals in its stars. It is small for a globular with a visible diameter of approximately 27 light years. It lies at a distance of approximately 13,000 light years from the Earth and can be viewed under dark skies with the aid of binoculars.
1http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m071.html