M9 // Scotty Bishop

An original discovery by Messier, the globular cluster M9 lies about 25,800 light years from Earth in the constellation of Ophiuchus. With stars about twice as old as the Sun, this globular cluster (like most globulars) lacks heavy elements like oxygen, iron, and carbon.

Messier 9

Messier 9 is a globular star cluster located about 25,000 light years away towards the center of the Milky Way. Due to its proximity to the Milky Way’s center, the shape of the cluster is slightly deformed from the gravitational pull. The cluster holds over 250,000 stars.

Globular clusters are thought to hold the oldest stars of the galaxy, much older than our Sun, born when the universe was fractionally younger. Their stars have much fewer heavy metals, since these elements form in supernovas and the cores of stars. When the clusters formed, there was much less of these elements around, including carbon, iron, and oxygen, elements key to life on Earth.

Messier 9 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus

Discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, M9 is a large globular cluster located near the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Globular Clusters are some of the oldest objects of the galaxy, providing clues about it's evolution and structure. There are also several dark clouds of interstellar dust nearby, which are featured in the first image above. While M9 can be seen with decent binoculars, it is only with large telescopes that the cluster comes into full view.

Top: Wide-Field - Siggi Kohlert

Messier Monday: A Globular from the Galactic Center, M9

"Many of these globulars may be as old as or even older than our galaxy itself, and today’s object — Messier 9 — formed no later than 12 billion years ago. Located just 5,500 light-years from the galactic center itself, this clump of stars weighs in at nearly half a million Suns, and is visible with just a pair of binoculars or a small telescope if you know where to look. Even on a Moon-filled summer night like tonight, it can provide you with spectacular sights."

Messier 9

Messier 9 is a globular cluster located about 25,000 light years away near the central area of the Milky Way. It contains about 300,000 stars within a diameter of 90 light years.

Globular clusters are somewhat spherical groups of stars held together loosely by gravity. Messier 9, located near the center of the Milky Way, is being pulled slightly out of shape by the gravitational influence. In this image, the stars are colored corresponding to their temperatures, red being cooler and blue hotter.