M107 | NGC 6171 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 21,000 Light Years Away
Messier 107 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1782 and later added to Charles Messier’s catalog, it is situated approximately 20,900 light-years away from Earth. With an estimated age of around 13 billion years, Messier 107 is one of the older globular clusters in our galaxy.
The globular cluster Messier 107 contains a densely packed collection of stars, estimated to be around 200,000 in number. The stars within globular clusters like Messier 107 are gravitationally bound to each other, forming a spherical shape around a common center of mass. Observations of globular clusters provide astronomers with valuable data on stellar populations, the structure of the Milky Way, and the conditions prevailing in the early stages of the universe.
Messier 107 is visible with binoculars or small telescopes and is often appreciated for its concentration of stars in a relatively small region of the sky. Its position in the constellation Ophiuchus, near the celestial equator, makes it accessible to observers in both hemispheres. The study of globular clusters like Messier 107 contributes to our understanding of the formation and evolution of stars in densely populated regions, shedding light on the broader processes shaping the structure and dynamics of our galaxy.