NGC 6752

NGC 6752
NGC 6752 by Hubble Space Telescope; 3.5′ view
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ClassVI[1]
ConstellationPavo
Right ascension19h 10m 52.11s[2]
Declination–59° 59′ 04.4″[2]
Distance13.0 kly (4.0 kpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)5.4 [4]
Apparent dimensions (V)20.4′
Physical characteristics
Mass1.4×105[5] M☉
VHB13.7
Metallicity = –1.24[6] dex
Estimated age11.78 Gyr[6]
Other designationsCaldwell 93, NGC 6777
See also: Globular cluster, List of globular clusters

NGC 6752 (also known as Caldwell 93 and nicknamed the Great Peacock Globular[7]) is a globular cluster in the constellation Pavo.[8] It is the fourth-brightest globular cluster in the sky, after Omega Centauri, 47 Tucanae and Messier 22, respectively. It is best seen from June to October in the Southern Hemisphere.[9] It is also known as NGC 6777, though this identification is uncertain.[10][11][12]

NGC 6752 was first identified by one James Dunlop of Parramatta on 30 June 1826, who described it as an irregular bright nebula which could be resolved into a cluster of many stars, highly compressed at the centre. This corresponds with a core region densely populated with stars around 1.3 light-years in diameter, which indicates it has undergone core collapse. The cluster lies around 13,000 light-years distant and is one of the closer globular clusters to Earth. It also lies 17,000 light-years away from the galactic centre.[8] It belongs to Shapley–Sawyer Concentration Class VI, namely of intermediate density,[1] and has been calculated to be 11.78 billion years old.[6] There are many binary stars in the system, as well as blue stragglers, which are likely to have been formed by collisions and mergers of smaller stars.

The apparent magnitude of the cluster is 5.4, so it can be seen with the unaided eye.[8] However this depends on good viewing conditions with a minimum of light pollution.[9] With binoculars it can be seen to cover an area three quarters the size of the full moon. It lies 1.5 degrees east of 5th-magnitude Omega Pavonis.[8] The nearest bright star is Peacock, which lies 3.25 degrees north and 9.25 degrees east.[9]

Six X-ray sources have been identified in the cluster's core by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.[9]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hcob849_11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference aj140_6_1830 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference apj742_1_51 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference simbad was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference mnras406_3_2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference mnras404_3_1203 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Chadwick, S; Cooper, I (11 December 2012). Imaging the Southern Sky. New York: Springer. p. 242. ISBN 978-1461447498.
  8. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference OMeara2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference mobberley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  11. ^ "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 6750 - 6799". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  12. ^ "NGC/IC Project Restoration Efforts". ngcicproject.observers.org. Retrieved 2024-08-29.