| Name | Angelfish Cluster |
| Designation(s) | M71, NGC 6838 |
| Object Type(s) | Globular Cluster |
| Relevant Catalog(s) | All (Chron), Messier, NGC |
| Obs. Lat/Long | 42° 17', 073° 57' |
| Constellation | Sagitta |
| Date and Time Observed | 2023-09-12 13:56:00 |
| Instrument | EdgeHD 8" f10-2,032mm FL |
| Camera | ASI294mc-Pro |
| Image Details | Up is 270.9 degrees E of N. Transparency: Good. Seeing: Poor. Total integration time was 10m. Exposures 30s@305g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. PHD2 guiding.. |
| Description | Discovered by Méchain and reported on October 4, 1780 after confirmation by Messier: "Nebula discovered by M. Méchain on June 28, 1780, between the stars Gamma and Delta Sagittae. On October 4 following, M. Messier looked for it: its light is very faint & it contains no star; the least light makes it disappear. It is situated about 4 degrees below [south of] that which M. Messier discovered in Vulpecula. See No. 27. He reported it on the Chart of the Comet of 1779.' (diam 3.5')" <--> This is one of the least dense of the Messier QC and ranked 26 and 27 respectively for brightness and diameter. The Angel Fish illusion is fairly compelling to my eyes: the fish's nose is the triangular grouping of stars at the 7 o'clock position. The tail ends with the four stars in a line at 1 o'clock. In between, the core of the cluster widens to a reasonably convincing body, terminating with caudal and anal fins. Gaps in the core even hint at stripes. Observed on an evening with terrible seeing causing misshapen stars using my 8" EdgeHD, so the tiny scale is not evident compared to the Seestar captures. |
| Catalog Links | |
