Deep space
Messier 3
Globular cluster · M3 · NGC 5272
Globular cluster in Canes Venatici
Photo: Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, G. Piotto et al. · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 3 is a globular cluster located 33.9 thousand light years from Earth in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. It is one of the largest and brightest globular clusters discovered with around 500,000 stars.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~33,900 light-years
Apparent mag.
+6.2
Apparent size
18′
Best seen with
Naked eye (dark sky)
Catalogue
M3 · NGC 5272
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 3 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 5272.
- Found in the constellation Canes Venatici.
- Visible to the naked eye from a dark, moonless site.
