C86 · globular cluster
NGC 6397
NGC 6397 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ara that was discovered by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752.
RA17h 40m 41sDec−53° 40' 25"
Image: NASA/ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Identity & coordinates
Identification
- Primary designation
- C86
- All designations
- C86 · NGC 6397
- Object type
- Globular Cluster
- Constellation
- Ara
- Best viewing
- Summer
Coordinates & physical
- Right ascension (J2000)
- 17h 40m 41s
- Declination (J2000)
- −53° 40' 25"
- Apparent magnitude (V)
- —
- Distance
- —
Visibility tonight
The science
NGC 6397 is a globular cluster in the constellation Ara that was discovered by French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille in 1752. It is located about 7,800 light-years from Earth, making it one of the two nearest globular clusters to Earth. The cluster contains around 400,000 stars, and can be seen with the naked eye under good observing conditions.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0
References
- SIMBAD Not resolved
- NED Fetched May 8, 2026 View in NED ↗
- Wikipedia Fetched May 8, 2026 Read full article ↗
1 merge conflict resolved
- coordinates: SIMBAD missing → NED used