The Pegasus Cluster, also cataloged as Messier 15 and NGC 7078, is one of the most rewarding globular clusters for amateur astrophotographers in the northern autumn sky. Spanning roughly 12′ across, it presents a dense, brilliant core surrounded by a halo of resolvable stars that challenge and reward long focal-length imaging setups. Its high surface brightness makes it an accessible target even under moderately light-polluted skies, though careful exposure control is needed to avoid clipping the intensely bright central region. Stacking many shorter sub-exposures helps preserve the delicate gradient from the blazing core to the sparse outer stars, yielding a crisp, star-packed final image.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Pegasus Cluster
- M 15 (Messier 15)
- NGC 7078
- Mel 234 (Melotte 234)
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Positioned in the constellation Pegasus at a right ascension of 21h 29m 58s and a declination of +12° 10′, the Pegasus Cluster sits in a relatively star-rich stretch of the northern autumn sky. Its location makes it easy to frame alongside surrounding field stars, and its compact 12′ angular size fits comfortably within the field of view of most telescopes paired with a dedicated astronomy camera. Imagers working this region will find it a convenient anchor point during the late-summer and autumn nights, when it rides high enough for clean, low-airmass captures.
Nice to Know
- The Pegasus Cluster carries several designations, including Messier 15, NGC 7078, and Melotte 234, making it easy to cross-reference in imaging catalogs.
- At a distance of about 33,800 light-years, its light has traveled a vast cosmic journey before reaching your sensor.
- The cluster spans a physical diameter of roughly 121 light-years, packing an enormous number of stars into a compact, photogenic sphere.
- It approaches us with a radial velocity of -106.5 km/s, a blueshift reflected in its negative redshift value of z = -0.000355183.
Brightness, distance and size
It lies about 33,800 light-years from Earth and spans roughly 121 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 12′ in size.
