M26 - NGC 6694

Messier 26 (NGC 6694) is a modest open cluster in the constellation Scutum, located approximately 5,000 light-years from Earth. It is one of the smaller and less prominent Messier open clusters, containing roughly 90 stars within a diameter of about 22 light-years and shining at an apparent magnitude of about 8.0. The cluster is estimated to be around 89 million years old. M26 was discovered by Charles Messier on June 20, 1764, during his sweep through the rich Milky Way star fields of Scutum, the same region that hosts the far more impressive Wild Duck Cluster (M11). M26 is notable for possessing a curious dark void near its center where very few stars are visible. This region of apparent low star density is thought to be caused by an intervening cloud of interstellar dust between us and the cluster that obscures the light from stars behind it, rather than being a genuine absence of stars. This feature gives M26 an unusual appearance compared to most open clusters. Through binoculars, M26 is a faint and somewhat nondescript haze that can be difficult to distinguish from the surrounding Milky Way star fields. A telescope of 4 inches or more at moderate magnification reveals a compact group of roughly 25 visible stars in a slightly elongated arrangement, with the central dark region becoming apparent with careful observation. M26 is not a showpiece object, but it provides an interesting contrast when observed alongside M11, which lies only about 1 degree to the southeast, illustrating the wide diversity of open cluster types.

Contains approximately 90 stars within 22 light-years diameter at a distance of 5,000 light-years, with an age of about 89 million years.