M73

M73 = NGC6994 ( 20h 58.9m -12°38´, 8.9 mag. )
This Y-shaped asterism in Aquarius was noticed by Messier on Oct. 4, 1780. It is located 1°20' E of M72 (see finder chart below). Four members of the group are 10.5 mag., 10.5 mag., 11.0 mag.

M73 (NGC 6994) is another uninteresting Messier, a 'cluster' comprised of four unrelated stars about 1.5º east of M 72.

Another interesting object to be found in Aquarius is M73. This object is unlike most of Messier's other discoveries. M73 is a small cluster of four stars. It is officially classified as an asterism.

M2 (globular cluster)
M72 (globular cluster)
M73 (system or astrerism of 4 stars)
This is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac.

There are many interesting celestial objects in this large constellation, including (M2 and M72), (NGC 7009 and NGC 7293), the star group M73, a double star (zeta Aqr).

Two objects in the Messier catalog are not deep-sky objects but rather small groupings of stars that appeared nebulous and fuzzy through Messier's optics. The object designated M73 is an asterism, a Y-shaped figure of four stars, ...

See also: M72, Cluster, Aquarius, Star, Sky

Topic: Astronomy