M73 | NGC 6994 | Asterism | Aquarius | 2,500 Light Years Away
Messier 73 is a controversial object in the Messier catalog, as its nature has been a subject of debate among astronomers. First cataloged by Charles Messier in 1780, Messier 73 is described as a group of four stars forming a quadrilateral shape in the constellation Aquarius. However, subsequent observations and analyses have raised questions about whether these stars are physically associated or merely appear close together in the sky by chance.
The stars that make up Messier 73 have different distances and proper motions, leading some astronomers to suggest that they may not form a physical group but rather a chance alignment. The debate about the nature of Messier 73 highlights the challenges astronomers face in determining the true physical associations of stars based solely on their apparent positions in the sky. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its status as a true star cluster, Messier 73 remains an intriguing object, sparking ongoing discussions and investigations into the nature of stellar groupings in the cosmos.