Messier 26, NGC 6694

The open cluster M 26 (also known as NGC 6694) is an open cluster in the constellation Scutum. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764.

Messier 26 is a rich group of 30 stars of magnitude 11 to 13. Not nearly as impressive as its apparent neighbor, M 11, Messier 26 has a total magnitude of only 8.0, and an apparent diameter of 15'. However, its members stand out well from the surrounding field of faint stars. An interesting feature of M 26 is a region of low star density near the nucleus, most likely caused by an obscuring cloud of interstellar matter between us and the cluster.

M 26 lies at a distance of 5,000 light years, and spans about 22 light years across. Its brightest star is of magnitude 11.9 and spectral type B8. The age of this cluster has been calculated to be 89 million years.