The young open cluster NGC 6709 soars through the sky tonight, visible in Aquila with binoculars or any telescope.
- The open star cluster NGC 6709, located in the constellation Aquila near its border with Ophiuchus, is observable with binoculars or telescopes.
- NGC 6709 has an apparent magnitude of 6.7 and an angular size of approximately 13 arcminutes.
- A 4-inch telescope reveals roughly three dozen stars within NGC 6709, with larger telescopes resolving more.
- Astronomical estimates place the age of NGC 6709 at around 140 million years.
This evening, look high in the southeast a few hours after sunset to find the stately constellation Aquila the Eagle, anchored by its brightest star, magnitude 0.8 Altair. In the northwestern regions of this constellation, near where it borders Ophiuchus, the bright open cluster NGC 6709 is our target for study tonight. Shining at magnitude 6.7, this cluster is visible in binoculars or any sized scope, making it a great target for beginners with any type of equipment. It lies just under 5° southwest of 3rd-magnitude 3.0 Zeta Aquilae.
Spanning about 13’, NGC 6709 is a rich cluster that will show off some three dozen stars through a 4-inch telescope. Larger telescopes will reveal even more stars. Astronomers estimate the cluster is quite young, around 140 million years old.
Sunrise: 5:54 A.M.
Sunset: 8:18 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:53 A.M.
Moonset: 10:04 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (10%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.