NGC 5466

NGC 5466
NGC 5466 by Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassXII[1]
ConstellationBoötes
Right ascension14h 05m 27.29s[2]
Declination+28° 32′ 04.0″[2]
Distance51.9 kly (15.9 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)10.5
Apparent dimensions (V)11
Physical characteristics
Mass1.79×105[4] M☉
VHB16.47
Metallicity = –2.20[5] dex
Estimated age13.57 Gyr[5]
Other designationsC 1403+287, GCl 27, GC 3776, h 1746, H 6.
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters
The location of NGC 5466 (circled in red)
NGC 5466 imaged with a 32-inch telescope

NGC 5466 is a class XII globular cluster in the constellation Boötes. Located 51,800 light years from Earth and 52,800 light years from the Galactic Center, it was discovered by William Herschel on May 17, 1784, as H VI.9. This globular cluster is unusual insofar as it contains a certain blue horizontal branch of stars, as well as being unusually metal poor like ordinary globular clusters. It is thought to be the source of a stellar stream discovered in 2006, called the 45 Degree Tidal Stream. This star stream is an approximately 1.4° wide star lane extending from Boötes to Ursa Major.

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  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mnras404_3_1203 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).