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Sky-Tonight.com / Nebulae / M71
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Columbus, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
39.9625
Longitude:
-83.0061

M71 Observation Details

M71

M71 Daily Motion


M71 will be visible until December, 30, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.

M71 Visibility Timetable on May 24

M71 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 20% illuminated04:1264°
Moon Set18:12-30°
M71 rise22:11
Astrosession begin22:436°
Astrosession end04:1465°
M71 transit05:1669°
Civil sunrise05:3868°
Sunrise06:1066°
M71 set12:21

Track M71 Position Throughout the Night

← Sat, 24 May 2025 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe M71 changing position in the night sky.

M71 - Globular Cluster

M71 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Sagitta. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745 and later cataloged by Charles Messier in 1780. The cluster is relatively loose for a globular cluster.

M71 spans about 27 light-years across and contains around 10,000 stars. The cluster is approximately 13,000 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 8.2, making it visible with binoculars or a small telescope.

M71 Image Gallery

DSS Blue

M71 photo taken with blue filter
These images are valuable for highlighting the presence of younger, hotter stars, which emit more light in the blue wavelengths.

DSS Red

M71 photo taken with red filter
These images are excellent for detecting older, cooler stars, as well as emission nebulae, which glow primarily in the red due to hydrogen alpha emissions.

DSS Near-Infrared

M71 photo taken with Near-Infrared filter
These images can penetrate dust clouds that obscure visible light, revealing structures and objects hidden within.

DSS Composite image

M71 color image
DSS Color images are composite images created by combining the blue, red, and often near-infrared images to produce a full-color representation.

The photos are taken from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), which was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) under NASA contract, using data from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II).

Special thanks to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the California Institute of Technology for their significant contributions.

Finder Chart for M71

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameM71
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
M71 coordinates19.89614, 18.77839
Center coordinates19.89614, 18.77839

M71 Passage Through Night

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Current position of M71

Time01:11
Latitude39.9625
Longitude-83.0061
M71 elevation34°
M71 Azimuth-93°
Here you can see the current position of the M71 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the M71's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of M71

Time
DateSun, 25 May 2025
Twighlight start22:43
Twighlight end04:12
Twighlight duration5h 29m
Rise22:07
Set12:18
Elevation at transit69°
Transit time05:12
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 19h 53m 46s", Dec: 18° 46' 42s
Magnitude6
ConstellationSagitta
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a M71, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the M71 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Data Credits

The nebulae information on this page is sourced from the OpenNGC project, developed by Matteo Verga. OpenNGC provides detailed data on the NGC catalog, which is a valuable resource for exploring deep-sky objects such as nebulae.

For more details or to contribute to OpenNGC, visit the official GitHub repository: OpenNGC on GitHub.