Messier 2 or M2 (also designated NGC 7089) is a globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius. It is located five degrees north of the star Beta Aquarii. M2 contains about 150,000 stars, including 21 known variable stars. Its brightest stars are red and yellow giant stars. Messier 2 is located within our Milky Way galaxy. It is one of the oldest clusters of stars designated to the Milky Way. Like most globular clusters, M2 is found within the galactic halo, specifically in the southern galactic cap. This places it right below the southern pole of the Milky Way.
M2 was the first globular cluster added to the Messier catalog. It is located roughly 55,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius. A globular cluster is a spherical group of stars that are bound together by their mutual gravitational attraction. M2 has a diameter of over 175 light-years and is one of the largest clusters of its kind. The cluster is rich, compact, and significantly elliptical. It is 12.5 billion years old and one of the older globular clusters associated with the Milky Way galaxy. It was discovered in 1746 by the French astronomer Jean-Dominique Maraldi while he was observing a comet.
This image consists of 66 120 second subs for a total exposure of 2.2 hours. Imaged with an RC8 and ASI071MC camera riding an EQ6r Pro mount from my driveway in the hills of western North Carolina, USA. All controlled using APT 4.50 with guiding by PHD2. Processed manually with PixInsight.
