Messier 56, also catalogued as NGC 6779, is a globular cluster in the constellation Lyra that makes a rewarding yet often overlooked deep-sky target for astrophotographers. Spanning roughly 7.1′ on the sky and measuring about 67 light-years across at its distance of some 32,600 light-years, it presents a compact, moderately rich ball of stars that benefits from longer focal lengths to resolve its outer members. Its position against the rich star fields of the summer Milky Way means wide-field exposures capture a beautiful carpet of background stars surrounding the cluster. Patient integration and careful star-color calibration will reveal a satisfying mix of warm and cool stellar hues across the swarm.
Names and Catalog numbers
- M 56 (Messier 56)
- NGC 6779
- Mel 220 (Melotte 220)
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
Messier 56 (NGC 6779) lies in the constellation Lyra at right ascension 19h 16m 35.6s and declination +30° 11′ 00.5″, placing it conveniently between the bright stars of Lyra and neighboring Cygnus. This region sits squarely within the dense summer Milky Way, so the cluster is framed by an abundance of foreground and background stars that lend depth and texture to any image. Imagers can use the prominent stars of the Summer Triangle as a starting point to star-hop toward this comparatively modest but elegant globular. The crowded surroundings make for striking wide-field compositions, while the cluster itself rewards higher magnification when seeing conditions cooperate.
Nice to Know
- Messier 56 belongs to the Messier catalog and carries multiple designations, including M 56, NGC 6779, and Mel 220.
- It is approaching us at a radial velocity of about -122 km/s, an unusually swift motion that hints at its dynamic orbit through the galaxy.
- At roughly 32,600 light-years away, its compact 7.1′ angular size makes it an ideal subject for longer focal lengths to resolve individual stars.
- Set against the dense star fields of the summer Milky Way in Lyra, it offers astrophotographers a beautifully textured backdrop for wide-field framing.
Brightness, distance and size
It lies about 32,600 light-years from Earth and spans roughly 67 light-years across. On the sky it appears about 7.1′ in size.
