M56

 

Object Type: Globular Cluster
Scope: C-9.25" SCT
Exposure 64 minutes

 

 

Messier 56 (also known as M56 or NGC 6779) is a globular cluster in the constellation Lyra.

 

It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1779.

 

M56 is at a distance of about 32,900 light-years from Earth and measures roughly 84 light-years across.

 

The brightest stars in M56 are of 13th magnitude while it contains only about a dozen known variable stars, such as V6 (RV Tauri star; period: 90 days) or V1 (Cepheid: 1.510 days); other variable stars are V2 (irregular) and V3 (semiregular).