Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Ophiuchus (Oph)  ·  Contains:  M 19  ·  NGC 6273
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M19, Gary Imm
M19, Gary Imm

M19

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M19, Gary Imm
M19, Gary Imm

M19

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Description

This Messier globular cluster is located 30,000 light years away in the constellation of Ophiuchus at a declination of -26 degrees.  It is a magnitude 5.6 cluster which spans 10 arc-minutes in our apparent view.  This corresponds to a diameter of 90 light years.  It has a medium concentration, with a Shapley–Sawyer Rating of 8 (out of 12).

The cluster is one of the most elongated clusters in shape and is oriented north-south.  Despite being the 4th brightest Messier globular in visual magnitude, a distinct brown dust lane cuts across the center of the cluster.  Are these 2 features related - the horizontal brown dust lane and the vertical cluster elongation?  One possibility is that dust is causing light extinction in the east-west edges of the cluster, making the cluster look oblong to our view.

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