M 72 NGC 6981

Capture

Seestar s50 73 stacks

Date

15 July 2026

Location

Camden, NSW

Original

2160 × 3840 px

M 72 NGC 6981 is a globular cluster located in the southwestern part of the constellation Aquarius. At a distance of roughly 50,000 light-years from Earth, it is one of the most remote clusters in Messier's catalogue. As a result of its great distance, it is also one of the faintest and visually smallest (in apparent size) entries on the list. The cluster has an estimated mass of about 168,000 solar masses and is believed to be roughly 9.5 billion years old. Observing M72 is a real challenge through 10×50 binoculars, it appears only as a faint, nebulous patch of light. Even when viewed through larger instruments like 15×80 binoculars, it typically presents a small, condensed core surrounded by a fainter, diffuse outer halo. Individual stars are not resolved. Apparent magnitude 9.4.

See it in the star clusters gallery