Constellation Scutum Declination −06° 16′ Apparent magnitude (V) 6.3 | Right ascension 18 51.1 Distance 6,200 ly (1,900 pc) Apparent dimensions (V) 14.0′ | |
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The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as Messier 11, or NGC 6705) is an open cluster in the constellation Scutum. It was discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1681. Charles Messier included it in his catalogue in 1764.
The Wild Duck Cluster is one of the richest and most compact of the known open clusters, containing about 2900 stars. Its age has been estimated to about 250 million years. Its name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck).
References
Wild Duck Cluster Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA