September 6, 2011
Long before your first heartbeat, stars were busy forging the elements you would one day call your own.
M6: The Butterfly Cluster
Birthday · September 6, 2011
A little universe, just for you
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APOD published September 6, 2011. Credit: Sergio Eguivar Buenos Aires Skies. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
To some, the outline of the open cluster of stars M6 resembles a butterfly. M6, also known as NGC 6405, spans about 20 light-years and lies about 2,000 light years distant. M6 can best be seen in a dark sky with binoculars towards the constellation of Scorpius, coving about as much of the sky as the full moon. Like other open clusters, M6 is composed predominantly of young blue stars, although the brightest star is nearly orange. M6 is estimated to be about 100 million years old. Determining the distance to clusters like M6 helps astronomers calibrate the distance scale of the universe. APOD Retrospective: Open Star Clusters
Image credit: Sergio Eguivar Buenos Aires Skies