M 14 NGC 6402

Capture

Seestar s50 72 stacks

Date

14 July 2026

Location

Camden, NSW

Original

1918 × 3410 px

M 14 NGC 6402 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus, about 30,000 light-years from Earth. It contains over 150,000 stars within a sphere about 100 light-years across and is estimated to be 12–13 billion years old. Its stars contain only about 5% of the Sun's heavy elements, showing that it formed early in the Milky Way's history. M14 is a Class VIII globular cluster, with a moderately concentrated core. At magnitude 7.6, it is too faint for the naked eye. Through binoculars it appears as a small, faint, round, misty glow, with no individual stars resolved. Apparent magnitude 7.6.

See it in the star clusters gallery